Drink to Your Health

January 30, 2012

Winter is here! Daily cold temperatures just beg for a tasty hot beverage. Hot chocolate, cappuccino, latte, coffee, and seasonal drinks from your local barista are all very tasty, but rarely are they good for you. Many are loaded with sugar and saturated fat. For instance, one company’s hot apple cider has all sorts of syrups and to top it off, comes with a light caramel drizzle. A medium serving contains around 71 grams of sugar!

So what are we to do? Many health experts encourage one to cut out the whipped cream and to buy smaller servings. Instead of purchasing a medium, go for a small.

As far as health goes, I prefer hot green tea. For some, drinking green tea plain without any added sweetener takes an acquired taste. Others fall in love with it right off the bat.

So what makes green tea healthy? Little molecules called catechins serve as natural antioxidants, which destroy free radicals. Free radicals have been linked to all sorts of degenerative diseases and various types of cancer. Green tea isn’t the only known item to contain large amounts of antioxidants. Fruit such as dark berries and vegetables, which are also dark in color, contain them as well. 

So, the next time you’re in the mood for a hot drink, instead of a calorie filled cup of liquid sugar, consider a cup of hot green tea!

Josh R.
Colbern Road Branch