Delicious Health Drinks

In a world of gymnasiums, bulging biceps and toned bodies, health is the focus! We preach about healthy bodies and healthy foods, but has anyone stopped to think of those countless cups of coffee we drink just to get through the day? Or the chocolate shakes we consume, which are nothing but packed with calories and zero nutritional content.

Green tea is a great antioxidant and is known to prevent and fight diseases; no wonder the Chinese have been drinking it for centuries, and we all know how long the Chinese live!

Drinking green tea helps in preventing cancer, cardiovascular diseases, strokes and other infections. It also helps fight cavities and increases the metabolism rate, which helps lose weight faster. Green tea comes in so many flavors as well, from honey, apricot, coco mint and even ginseng. If one wants decaffeinated green tea, it is available as well.

This recipe will help you brew a perfect cup of green tea. Here is the method.

• You will need one tea bag for every cup of tea you desire.
• In a kettle, pour one and a half cup of water and let it boil.
• Let this boiled water stand for a while.

• In a cup, place the tea bag and pour the hot water over it.
• Let this to stand for 3 minutes and then remove the tea bag.
• Add sugar or honey if desired.
• Add a lemon wedge for extra flavor.

Ingredients

• ¼ cup crushed Pineapple
• 1 diced Apricot
• 6 Strawberries
• ½ Banana
• 1 ½ cup Water
• 1 cup Low fat yogurt

Take the crushed pineapple, dried apricots, strawberries, bananas and mix them together in a blender. After all the fruits are properly crushed, add water. Now blend again till all the fruits and water are properly mixed. Your delicious apricot pineapple smoothie is ready. Keep it in the refrigerator and serve it chilled.

Ingredients

• Ripe Banana - 1
• Frozen mixed berries or blueberries - ¼ cup
• Water - 1 ¼ cup
• Cinnamon - ⅛ teaspoon
• Low fat yogurt or soy milk - 1 cup
• Ice, crushed - ¼ cup

Take banana, berries, cinnamon, yogurt in a bowl and blend them. Then add water and blend till all the ingredients are mixed. Now add crushed ice to it and serve chilled. One can avoid adding ice and instead, the smoothie can be stored in the refrigerator.

For all those who are on a diet and want something cold to drink during the summer months can opt for sorbets instead of ice creams or cola cans. Sorbets are ice-based recipes, plus sorbets have the advantage of being 'antioxidants'.

Ingredients

• Mixed berries, frozen - 1 ¼ cup
• Water - 1 ¼ cup
• Sugar - 1 ¼ cup
• Lemon Juice - 2 to 3 tablespoons
• Mint leaf - 1

First mix water and sugar in a pan and boil it over medium heat. Once the sugar is dissolved, remove from heat. Pour the mixture in a bowl and set aside to cool. Now, combine the mixture and the fruit in a food processor.

Once the ingredients are mixed, add the lemon juice and blend again. Once properly blended, pour the sorbet in a bowl. Place the bowl in the refrigerator and serve it chilled with a mint leaf.

Ingredients

• Lime juice - ¼ cup
• Lemon juice - 2 tablespoons
• Water - 1 cup
• Sugar - 1 cup
• Mint leaf - 1

Take sugar and water in a pan and heat it till the sugar dissolves. Now, pour the mixture in a bowl. Add lime and lemon juice to the mixture and blend. Freeze the sorbet and serve with mint leaf. You can top it with sparkling water as well.

Ingredients

• Sugar - ½ cup
• Cocoa - ¼ cup
• Semisweet chocolate - 1 oz.
• Instant coffee - ¼ teaspoon
• Water - ½ cup
• Cinnamon/Nutmeg - ½ teaspoon

Add water, cocoa, instant coffee, cinnamon, chocolate, nutmeg in a pan. Bring the water to boil. Once all the ingredients are mixed, add sugar and let it dissolve on a low heat. Remove from heat and freeze. Serve the sorbet chilled.

Health drinks not only fill your stomach but will also satisfy your taste buds, and all this not at the cost of your health. One can enjoy these drinks and still be guilt-free.