Scorching summer is once again the peak season for beverage consumption. Faced with a dazzling array of drinks, everyone has their own preferred flavor. However, the nutritional content of different beverages varies greatly. Is your choice the right one?
Bottled Water Keywords: Zero Calories
In the hot summer with a lot of sweating, it is often necessary to replenish fluids, especially when going out. Common types of bottled water include mineral water, purified water, and mineralized water.
Purified water is water that has undergone purification treatment, removing microorganisms and organic matter harmful to the human body. It is very "pure" and convenient for people to drink when they are out. However, do not drink purified water exclusively for long periods. Because purified water does not easily pass through cell membranes, it can lead to the loss of some nutrients. Some people may also feel that drinking purified water does not quench their thirst, and long-term consumption can lead to fatigue, a weakened immune system, and even diseases such as atherosclerosis.
Choosing natural water with a certain amount of minerals, such as mineralized water, is a healthier option. Drinking mineralized water not only quenches thirst and replenishes fluids but also supplements the essential minerals and trace elements that the body needs, compensating for those lost through minor sweating.
Carbonated Drinks Keywords: Carbonation, Bone Health
Drinking carbonated beverages helps to relieve summer heat, promote sweating, and dissipate body heat. On a hot summer day, an ice-cold carbonated drink must feel very refreshing. The main components of these drinks are water, carbon dioxide, carbohydrates, and they also contain certain ingredients like caffeine and phosphoric acid.
Carbonated drinks contain caffeine, and excessive consumption is not good for your health. Additionally, carbonated drinks contain sweeteners, carbonic acid, flavorings, and colorings. Long-term and excessive consumption can have side effects. Research has shown that the phosphoric acid in carbonated drinks can affect the body's absorption of calcium, causing an imbalance in the calcium-phosphorus ratio, which damages bone health and can easily lead to bone loss.
Fruit and Vegetable Juice Keywords: Vitamins, High Calories
Fruit and vegetable juices are beverages made from fresh, refrigerated fruits or vegetables. They often contain or have added various vitamins and minerals, which are beneficial for maintaining human health.
The production of fruit and vegetable juices involves multiple processes, and various additives are used, such as pectin, potassium sorbate, stabilizers, edible colors, and edible flavors. Consuming large amounts of fruit juice can lead to a decreased appetite, causing deficiencies in essential proteins, fats, and trace elements in the body. Fruit and vegetable juices are high in sugar and calories, so drinking too much will increase calorie intake. Women who need to control their weight should drink less.
It is worth mentioning that even though fruit juice is relatively nutritious, it cannot replace whole fruit. Although the processing of fruit juice can preserve many of the nutrients of fruit, it removes most of the dietary fiber and pectin. These nutrients have the effect of promoting digestion, moisturizing the intestines, and detoxifying. Fresh fruit has the effect of promoting digestion and bowel regularity, which fruit juice lacks.
Dairy Drinks Keywords: Protein, High Calories
Dairy drinks are made from fresh milk or dairy products, either fermented or unfermented. They contain a certain amount of protein, fat, iron, vitamins, and lactic acid bacteria. Drinking dairy drinks can increase the beneficial bacteria in the human gut, helping to regulate the digestive system, stimulate appetite, and promote digestion and absorption. Due to their unique flavors, they are becoming increasingly popular.
However, the milk content in dairy drinks is not high, generally only about 5%, so their nutritional value is far less than that of milk and yogurt. Therefore, you should not neglect your protein intake just because you are drinking dairy drinks, and of course, you cannot use them as a substitute for milk or yogurt.
Milk yogurt drinks have a high sugar content, generally reaching 10% to 13%. Drinking too much can lead to excessive calorie intake and cause obesity.
Tea Drinks Keywords: Low Calories, Tea Aroma
Refreshing tea drinks are made by adding a little sugar or honey to tea soup, which not only conforms to the traditional Chinese tea-drinking habit but also reduces the hassle of brewing, providing great convenience for travelers. Moreover, refreshing tea drinks have the effects of promoting urination and lowering body temperature, making them quite suitable for summer drinking. At the same time, tea drinks are similar to tea water and contain certain vitamins that can protect the skin and reduce ultraviolet radiation damage.
There are also herbal teas, such as the popular Wong Lo Kat herbal tea, which adds various Chinese herbal ingredients like honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, and Prunella vulgaris. These herbal ingredients have effects such as clearing heat, removing dampness, detoxifying, and preventing "heatiness" (a concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine), making them quite suitable for summer consumption.
Although the health benefits of tea in tea drinks have been greatly diminished, due to the significant differences between various types of tea, we should still choose drinks based on our own preferences and physical condition. This is especially true for herbal teas, which are not suitable for everyone. People with a weak spleen and stomach or poor physical constitution should not drink them in large quantities.
Sports Drinks Keywords: Functional Drinks, Multiple Nutrients
Sports drinks (such as Combit Fitness Drink) have special functions and are suitable for specific groups of people to drink before, during, and after exercise. Their nutritional content is quite different from that of ordinary drinks. Sports drinks do not contain carbonation, avoiding gastrointestinal discomfort; they also do not contain alcohol or caffeine and have the characteristic of low osmotic pressure. Sports drinks have a specific purpose, so they cannot be consumed indiscriminately at any time.
When exercising and sweating heavily, it is recommended to choose sports drinks. The electrolytes, vitamins, and inorganic salts in them can quickly replenish the body's functions, which is very helpful for energy supply during exercise and recovery after exercise. In the summer, due to heavy sweating, a lot of electrolytes and vitamins are lost. If not replenished in time, the body's fluid acid-base balance will be disrupted. In this case, drinking sports drinks in moderation is the best choice.
Drinking sports drinks when not exercising and not sweating heavily will lead to excessive intake of calories and electrolytes, which needs to be controlled in moderation.
Functional Drinks Keywords: Caffeine
When the weather is hot, it's easy to feel sleepy in the afternoon. A functional drink in the afternoon can greatly improve work efficiency. This is mainly because these drinks contain a certain amount of caffeine, which has a nerve-stimulating effect. Some functional drinks also have effects such as anti-fatigue and boosting immunity, which are mainly due to the Chinese herbal ingredients in the drinks. Sports drinks also belong to the category of functional drinks, with effects such as improving athletic ability and replenishing lost nutrients.
Functional drinks should be chosen with a specific purpose. Functional drinks containing caffeine, which have a nerve-stimulating effect, are not suitable for children and pregnant women. People with neurasthenia or poor sleep should also use them with caution.