Just cruise through your local supermarket and you’re bound to be bombarded with a ton of “healthy” drink options with eye-catching labels and enticing claims like More antioxidants! More vitamins! More electrolytes! The list goes on and on. But underneath the label can be a very different story; not every drink is as good for you as you think.
Every day, studies are confirming that some of these drinks may be downright terrible for your health because they contain things like artificial colors, artificial flavorings, and artificial sweeteners. Furthermore, in some of these drinks, the manufacturing process itself may actually strip away vital nutrients. Think that fruit juice is the real deal? Not so much when it’s pasteurized, loaded with high fructose corn syrup, and stripped of its fibers. Plus, manufacturers are smart and labels can be deceiving, so it makes it even harder to detect the good from the bad.
This is why I constantly tell people to go as natural as possible with their beverages and to also primarily rely on good ‘ole H20 for hydration. Simply put: You don’t have to worry about getting unhealthy, artificial stuff when you go as natural as possible. That being said, you should also take a moment to check out this list of other surprisingly unhealthy drinks. You may be shocked to find that your regular “healthy” drink of choice is not really that good for you.
Soy Milk
Many folks view soy milk as a good alternative to dairy milk because it’s lactose free, it’s protein-rich, it’s cholesterol-free, and because it has heart-healthy omega-3s. But that doesn’t mean soy milk is all good news. First off, you’ve got all those popular flavored soy milks that are loaded with empty calories and fattening sugars. Then there’s a bigger potential problem with soy: pesticides. Within the US, soy is one of the most heavily pesticide sprayed crop. In addition, not too long ago soy got a lot of attention because of the possible link to breast cancer through natural plant chemicals called isoflavones. Since isoflavones bind to estrogen receptors, they can have similar effects to estrogen, thus potentially leading to or worsening breast cancer.
Coconut Water
I can totally understand why the world’s gone nuts for coconut water. But the pre-packaged coconut water in your supermarket is often vastly different from fresh coconut water. For one thing, compared to fresh coconut water, packaged coconut water can have up to twice the amount of sugar, and is also lacking in fiber. Also, what makes fresh coconut water so healthy is that it’s loaded with potassium, an electrolyte that’s key for rehydration. But interestingly enough, a study from ConsumerLab.com found that some popular commercial coconut waters didn’t deliver the amount of electrolytes promised on the label.
Low/No Calorie Drinks
The biggest selling-point behind low/no-cal beverages is that they encourage hydration by making water taste like, well, not water. But the ingredients in those beverage additives may make you take pause. Not only are they filled with artificial flavors and sweeteners, they contain many ingredients that make health experts like myself cringe- like aspartame (side effects include headaches, anxiety, heart palpitations), acesulfame potassium (which contains a known carcinogen), and phenylalanine (a protein that’s generally safe, but toxic in high doses and not recommended for pregnant women and breast-feeding mothers). And then we have those artificial colorings – like Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 1, and Red 40 – that may be linked to cancer and are on the no-no list of the interest group Center for Science in the Public Interest. So yeah, once again it may be a better bet to just skip the flavor packets and add a bit a lemon, a squeeze of fresh orange, or a cucumber slice to your H20.
Diet Soda
Many of us rejoiced when we were introduced to a “healthier” alternative to soda. But turns out, we were duped. The most recent (and disturbing) news? In a recent study that followed 2,500 New Yorkers for 10 years, those who drank diet soda every day were more likely to have a stroke, a heart attack, or even die from a cardiovascular disease. That’s serious stuff. And when those results were adjusted for smoking, weight, exercise, and other dietary factors, the stats were still the same. Another study published in Diabetes Care journal found that diet soda drinkers were more likely to develop metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.
Bottom line: Go as natural as possible with your beverages of choice, and primarily rely on good ‘ole H20 for hydration. Furthermore, learn to read labels and be mindful of artificial additives that could potentially wreak havoc on your body and waistline.
Your thoughts?- Doc
I would very much like to give your products a try, but I’m gluten free. Any plans on making your products allergy free?
I get a headache and feel faint when I start a workout without eating. any suggestions?
i wished you would have included a list of healthy drinks also. Very good information.
I am thinking of amputating my Locs and re-birthing my natural fro……what will be the best way to do this???
Where are you located and how much do you charge?
I agree with your list yet coconut water has been the only thing that has hydrated me. Water doesn’t do it I need electrolytes of a larger quantity. I eat a very good balance diet also my body flushes out the water quickly. Taking supplements is not as effective. Coconut water easily hydrates me. Can you suggest something I am missing?
Hi Jammie, as I mentioned in the post, “fresh coconut water” is always healthy. That is not always the case with processed (sugar added) coconut water that we typically see in “cans” and “boxes.” So if you are drinking fresh coconut water straight from the fruit, that’s great. If not, then I would definitely look more closely at the nutrition facts and ingredients of the coconut water you’re buying.
Would you say that the ingredients on coconut water need to read #100 percent coconut water only?
Overall, I would scan the ingredients for sugar specifically. If sugar is in the ingredients, then it was added. Since I advocate low carb and “sugar consciousness” I would avoid regularly consuming drinks with added sugar.
What are your thoughts on almond and coconut milk?
I think almond milk and coconut milk are fine. Both a loaded with nutrients and I think they’re a better option than cow’s milk. That said, I rarely drink almond/coconut milk, but when I do, I always go organic.
I cannot drink cow milk. Is their a brand of soy milk or another milk brand you would suggest? Thanks.
Hi Secundra, with soy milk you ALWAYS want to go organic because of the whole GMO issue. In the past I’ve purchased Silk’s Organic Soy Milk, but there are quite a few other organic soy brands in most supermarkets- especially Whole Foods. Just look on the label for the USDA Organic seal of approval, and you should be fine.
Secundra, There are many other non-dairy milks out there that aren’t refrigerated a few are organic and some not. You can also make your own milk from the seeds of nuts.
Thanks for sharing Joy. To add, I would recommend looking into almond milk and coconut milk too. I like the brand “So Delicious” and they have great options for almond milk and coconut milk based products.
My 10 month old son has a hard time processing dairy, so I’ve put him on soy formula. Because of this, I’ve had to alter my diet, and try different things, including cooking and drinking soy milk. I was even considering soy milk for my son when he stops drinking formula. Now that I’ve read your article, I am a little concerned. My question is, what is a safe and healthy alternative for us that is cost efficient? Understand that I do want to stay healthy and would like the best for my son, but I don’t want go broke spending money on the top milk, especially if he has to drink it daily!
Hi Dyticia, I definitely understand your concern for price, however we all have different perceptions of what is cost efficient, so you’ll have to decide what is cost efficient for you. That said, as I mentioned in my answer above, with soy milk you ALWAYS want to go organic because of the whole GMO issue. In the past I’ve purchased Silk’s Organic Soy Milk, but there are quite a few other organic soy brands in most supermarkets- especially Whole Foods. Just look on the label for the USDA Organic seal of approval, and you should be fine.