The Best Health Beverages to Try This Year

In 2020, we were all suddenly made hyper-aware of the importance of our health. In the wake of a global health crisis, we had no option but to take account of what we could be doing better to take care of our bodies.

Going into 2021, health is still at the forefront of a lot of our minds. And when we say health, we don’t just mean physical fitness, but more comprehensive health. Health from the inside out. If one of your New Year’s Resolutions was to get healthier, but you’re not sure where to go from there, start with something small and easy to do.

Something as simple as switching out your drink with a healthier alternative can improve your overall well-being, making you feel better for longer. Here are some of the best healthy beverages to try out this year.

1. Water

Yes, this one may seem obvious, but seriously. Our bodies are 70% water for a reason. Water can improve overall cell function, help rejuvenate dry and damaged skin, hair, and nails, and even help you lose weight.

Even if you think you drink a lot of water, chances are, you may not be drinking enough. Did you know that the average adult is supposed to drink 2.7-3.7 liters a day? That may seem like a high number right now, but it comes easy with practice.

Make it easier to get yourself in the habit of drinking plenty of water by buying a reusable water bottle that has markings showing progress and reminding you to drink some water every hour. This even makes drinking water a sort of game, encouraging a healthy habit in a fun way.

2. A Probiotic Drink

If you haven’t heard about probiotics and all of the good they can do for your body, let us be the bearer of good news. Probiotics are good bacteria (yes, they exist) that help balance out your body, strengthen your immune system, and aid in gut health and better digestion.

Probiotics naturally occur in fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut and cultured milk products like yogurt or cottage cheese. You can also find probiotics in pill and powder forms, but a drinkable probiotic is more fun and flavorful to reap the benefits of these good bacteria.

When it comes to probiotic drinks, you have a few options.

Kombucha

In the past decade, kombucha has made itself a staple in the health foods market. This drink is a fermented tea that contains live and active cultures, which is what that weird-looking stuff at the bottom of the bottle is (now you know).

It has a robust and vinegar-like flavor and a fermented zing to it and is available in a wide variety of flavors. Though it has become very popular for its unique flavor, that is also its greatest weakness. Not everyone is a fan of this intense taste, so if that’s not something you’re into, you can look elsewhere for your probiotics.

Tepache

Tepache is a fermented probiotic drink hailing from Mexico. Like kombucha, it is also fermented and has all the goodness of probiotics packed into it.

Unlike kombucha, it is made from fermented pineapple. This gives it a mellower, less-funky taste that more people find palatable and delicious. Who doesn’t love the fresh taste of pineapple?

Since it’s made only from natural flavors, you’ll find that Tepache has about 40% less sugar than kombucha, making it a healthier and arguably better choice for your probiotic beverage needs.