Now show us one person who doesn’t know the benefits of having water. It keeps you hydrated, aids in digestion, helps with weight management, and overall health improvement. Then of course, for a glowing skin, healthy hair and for an overall feel-good, you need water – and lots of it!
But what do you do if you simply don’t like water? That can be surprising, but there are a lot among us who don’t like drinking water. And there are plenty of solutions for that. Let’s explore the substitutes for water and keeping yourself hydrated all the same.
1. Fruit Infused Water
Don’t like the taste of plain water?
Add natural flavors like sliced lemons, sliced oranges or cucumber without any added sugars. This will flavor your water and give you the much-needed freshness.
2. Juice Spritzer
Mix seltzer water with cranberry, or pomegranate juice to create a bubbly fruit spritzer! To keep calories low, make sure you choose one which is 100 percent juice and try to stick with using just ¼ to ½ cup of juice. About half a cup of juice should be enough to keep your calorie intake in check.
3. Green Tea
Now, who isn’t familiar with green tea as an option? They’re great health boosters and contain phytochemical compounds that have been proven to have disease-preventing qualities. In addition to these, green tea can reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and improve blood flow. Make it tastier with a slice of lemon or add ½ a teaspoon of honey. Not a fan of green tea? Any tea you brew is a good low-calorie option.
4. Milk
Milk is a liquid fortified with calcium, vitamin D, and protein. This power drink can be satiating and keeps you full for longer. With its comfort values, milk also counts towards your daily hydration requirements. You can add chocolate, cocoa powder or fruits to make milkshakes and bananas too and make it quite literally a snack or even a breakfast. You can swap a yogurt or cheese serving in your menu plan for a glass of skim or 1% milk or replace a 150-calorie snack with a cup of low-fat chocolate milk.
5. Iced Fruit Tea
We recommend that you make your own iced teas and not buy them as they are full of added sugars and calories. You can make your own fruity blend iced tea to sip on by brewing and then chilling one of the many varieties of tea available. For extra flavor and a touch of sweetness, stir in freshly-squeezed lemon, lime or orange juice and slices of the citrus. Or serve over ice cubes made of part juice and part water. If you plan to sip several glasses, make sure you choose a decaffeinated tea variety.
6. Vegetable Juices
Vegetable juice offers a quick, low-calorie way to get many of the benefits of veggies, without fiber. It also contains much less natural sugar than fruit juices, according to Culinary Nutrition.
Better yet, make your own fresh juice easily at home with a juicer. Simply add your favorite veggies, and even a few slices of fruit if you want to sweeten your drink, to the juicer — no chopping required! If you prefer a little kick, add some black pepper and a drop of hot sauce. There are plenty of options that you can make. Cucumber juice, celery juice, tomato juice, tomato and carrot juice are just a few of them. Let those creative juices flow!
7. Coconut Water
Unsweetened coconut water is a natural source of vitamins and minerals, and has the added benefit of being low in sugar (only 12 g per cup), according to estimates from the USDA. Along with it, coconut water is a rich source of electrolytes and being natural, it’s also healthier than energy drinks. So if you’re a fitness enthusiast, it’s better to keep yourself hydrated (it’s almost 94% water!) and healthy by drinking coconut water.
Just remember to not confuse coconut water with coconut milk—the latter is made by grating the coconut flesh and is primarily used in cooking.
8. Watermelon Juice
Technically this is just watermelon juice but, it’s so low in sugar and so high in water, that we call it watermelon water. But it has plenty of flavor—it’s just a liquid version of the fruit—and is seriously hydrating.
9. Coffee
Coffee actually counts towards your H2O for the day. Of course, if you’re adding tons of sugar or dairy, you’re detracting from your water count, so just take your coffee black with a dash of coconut or almond milk.
Related: 5 Best Winter Coffee Drinks [with Recipe]
10. Virgin Mojito
Drinking plain water for hydration can be so meh. So why not make it a bit more exciting? Make a little virgin mojito with muddled mint, sparkling water, a little stevia, and fresh lime juice. It’s tasty, refreshing and has zero calories.
11. Aloe Water
The ancient Egyptians considered it to be the plant of immortality. Aloe vera is packed with nutrients, anti-oxidants and has regenerative properties. It has detoxifying characteristics for the gut and helps cell growth and repair. Its gel, as you know, is widely used for health and beauty reasons.
While you can drink aloe vera water, it can be quite bitter. So you’ll need to add something citrusy or sweet to offset its natural not-so-great flavor! In addition to keeping you hydrated, it’ll also detoxify your body and keep your skin glowing.
Of course, none of these are substitutes for plain, good, natural drinking water, but you can always keep these handy for the times when you are bored to just drink water and want to refresh yourself with a healthy and tasty drink.
Also Read: Quick and Easy Soups to Keep You Warm This Winter| Crowd Favorite Spring Cocktails| Shake It Up! Refreshing Mocktail Recipes