In summer, people consume large amounts of beverages daily, and some also occasionally eat ice cream. When choosing cold drinks, note that the more natural they are, the healthier they are. Try to choose drinks that are close to their natural state.
The first choice is water, the last is dessert.
First level: Boiled water, purified water, and mineral water. Purified water removes almost all impurities from the water; mineral water contains one or more trace elements, which are beneficial to health and also have a better taste.
Second level: Tea. Green tea, oolong tea, and black tea are the three most commonly consumed types of tea. Tea provides antioxidant substances such as tea polyphenols and some micronutrients, and has effects such as preventing cancer, reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, reducing cavities and kidney stones.
Third level: Low-fat milk (with a fat content of 1.5% or 1%), skim milk, and soy milk beverages. These drinks contain high-quality protein, calcium, and some essential micronutrients needed by the human body. Yogurt also contains a large number of probiotics beneficial to the gastrointestinal tract.
Fourth level: Cold drinks containing certain nutrients. These include pure fruit and vegetable juices, whole milk, sports drinks, and milk-containing ice cream.
Fifth level: Zero-calorie sweet drinks. These drinks only provide water and sweetness without providing energy.
Sixth level: Caloric sweet drinks and cold foods. This includes carbonated drinks, which are very popular in summer, as well as desserts like popsicles. Besides containing high energy, these cold drinks contain almost no other useful nutrients.
Fruit and vegetable juices, dairy products are rich in nutrients.
Beverages have two main benefits for human health: one is hydration, and the other is providing nutrition.
It is often said that women are made of water, but in fact, men are too. Because water accounts for 60% to 70% of the human body's weight, that is, the majority of our body weight is water. And the metabolism that the human body carries out every moment produces some waste, which must be excreted through the kidneys, and this excretion must rely on water as a solvent. Therefore, people must drink water every day. The Chinese Nutrition Society recommends drinking more than 1200 milliliters of water per day. The main benefit that beverages bring to the human body is the water they contain.
Milk drinks, fruit juices, vegetable juice drinks, etc., in addition to the water they contain, also have a certain amount of milk and dairy products, fruits and vegetables, so they will naturally contain some nutrients. Drinking them in moderation can supplement dietary nutrients. Of course, the nutrient content in these drinks cannot be generalized; some have high nutrient content, and some have low. Sports drinks and nutrient-fortified drinks have added minerals, vitamins, and other ingredients, making them suitable for drinking after outdoor activities or exercise in hot weather.
Special tips:
Don't drink cold drinks immediately after exercise
1. Do not overindulge in cold foods, especially do not drink large amounts of beverages or eat cold foods after exercise or meals. Overindulging in cold foods can cause rapid contraction of gastrointestinal blood vessels, leading to the gastrointestinal system being unable to adapt to rapid changes in temperature, causing gastrointestinal discomfort, and even possibly leading to gastrointestinal cramps.
2. Do not let children drink too many cold drinks. Because cold drinks have a high sugar content, the metabolism of sugar consumes a large amount of vitamins, which can lead to vitamin deficiency in children. Eating too many cold foods can also lead to a loss of appetite in children, affecting the nutritional intake of a normal diet.
3. Do not eat cold drinks sold by unlicensed vendors. Some small food shops or roadside stalls will make their own cold drinks. Because the goods in some roadside shops are good value and cheap, they are popular. However, the hygiene of homemade or small-batch cold drinks is difficult to guarantee, so try not to buy them blindly.
Don't buy cold drinks with poorly sealed packaging
1. When buying cold drinks, check the outer packaging. Cold drink products should be tightly sealed and undamaged. The trademark content should be complete, with the product name, manufacturer's name, address, net weight, main ingredients, production date, and shelf life clearly visible.
2. Check the product's color. The color should match the product name. If the color is too bright and not natural, it may be due to excessive addition of colorings.
3. Taste the aroma and texture. The aroma should match the product name, be mild, and not have a pungent smell. The taste should not be bitter, astringent, or alcoholic.