In today’s podcast, Kim and Tony talk about beautifying beverages and what to avoid. Obviously, fresh water is the best choice to drink throughout the day, but that can get a little boring (60 billion soft drink sales and 100 billion alcoholic beverage sales per year prove it!). You don’t have to feel limited to water when you’re transitioning into a healthier lifestyle, so let’s take a look at some of the healthy alternatives as well as what you should always stay away from.

CLICK HERE to listen to the podcast now, or right click to download. 

How to Start Your Morning

Always start with a glass of fresh water and hot water with lemon to rehydrate after the night. Even if you’re having coffee later, start off with this. Hot water with lemon offers enzymes, reparative qualities for the liver, vitamin C, and may even be more hydrating than plain water. Set yourself up to make good choices throughout the rest of the day by starting on a replenishing, rather than dehydrating, foot.

What about Coffee Alternatives?

If you’re working to detox your body and making healthier choices elsewhere, having a cup of coffee per day is fine for people who really don’t want to give it up. For some people, trying to find a substitute just won’t work. Limit it to one cup of coffee (preferably organic) per day in this case. Drink it one hour before or after your Glowing Green Smoothie.

Other alternatives:

• Green tea
• Black tea (more caffeine than green)
• White tea (less caffeine)
• Rooibos tea
• Yerba mate
• Chamomile tea
• Fresh mint tea (try growing some mint on your windowsill!) with a little coconut nectar or stevia to sweeten it

The Beauty of Tea

There’s so much variety out there, it’s easy to keep things fun and interesting and keep yourself away from unhealthy choices throughout the day. Experiment!

Tea can work at any time to satisfy flavor cravings. Keep several on hand for sweet cravings, spicy cravings, etc.

Dining out tip: Order hot tea with your meal and sip it. Warm liquids may even assist with digestion when sipped, whereas iced drinks can hinder the digestive process. Ice is actually a shock to the system and cools the digestive fire.

Soda Substitutes

Sodas—even diet sodas—are definitely not the best beauty beverage choices, but people drink them for a variety of reasons that can make it difficult to kick the habit.

• If you’re craving the cool, refreshing aspect of a soda, grab a glass bottle of iced tea (check out Argo, Honest Tea, and Inko’s). White is best, and either unsweetened or sweetened with stevia.
• If it’s the carbonation you want, try kombucha, but stay away from the flavors with more sugar. These can be made with less ideal ingredients, but they’re a good transition or occasional drink. Try to have no more than a few per week. If you’re kicking a soda habit, one per day is okay.

Study that shows diet soda leads to weight gain

Always Avoid Energy Drinks and Sports Drinks

Energy drinks are horrible because they have even more caffeine than soda, as well as other artificial colors and preservatives you don’t want in your body.

Try replacing sports drinks, which a lot of people drink for the flavor in place of water, with lemonade made from water, fresh lemons, and stevia. Coconut water is another good hydration option to use in place of sports drinks, and it adds minerals back into the body.

If you feel like you have to have an energy drink, at least look for the ones that don’t use artificial sweeteners. Try Steaze or Blue Energy, but only use these substitutes as a transition to healthier options.

Hearty Beauty Beverage Options for the Afternoon

Heartier beverage options include protein shakes, smoothies, or even almond milk.

The Power Protein Smoothie is a good option for post-workout, in the afternoon, or as an on-the-go meal replacement option.

Be aware of the ingredients in the smoothies you don’t make at home. Some options that seem like they should be healthy (Smoothie King, Jamba Juice, etc), but really aren’t. There could be milk derivatives in the base, yogurt, and added sugar. If this is the only smoothie option you have, eat raw fruit instead.

You can make your own almond milk (and then use it as a base in your homemade smoothies, too!) with just a blender and a nut milk bag. Other options are commercial almond milks, coconut milks, or even rice milk (to a lesser degree).

Coconut water is also a good base for smoothies.

Do These Drinks Count Toward Water Goals for the Day?

The general guideline for water intake is half your weight, in ounces. So a 130-lb woman would need 65 oz. of water each day. That varies from person to person based on climate, activity level, how much they sweat, etc.

The hydrating drinks, drinks without caffeine, could count toward this goal. Raw veggies and fruit also help because they’re full of water. It’s really important to just listen to your body and find out what it needs at the time.

At Night: Alcoholic Beverages

Obviously these aren’t healthy, but they’re a part of life for some people. Be sure to make the best choices:

• Red wine
• Gluten-free beer
• Simple mixed drinks (like vodka and soda with lime)

Try to keep the Beauty Detox principles in mind even when you’re drinking. Choose the options with the least amount of sugar and added dyes, try to put some space between your alcoholic beverages and your meals, and hydrate before you go to bed!