Give yourself a big pat on the back for rolling into another year like a boss — 2023 is shaping up to be your healthiest yet. The New Year brings a lot of new resolutions, and if one of yours is to take control of your health, adding some functional nutrition to your diet might be just what you need.
The bombardment of “healthy” at the beginning of each year may leave you a little weary of taking in too much too fast because too many changes all at once is rarely a good thing.
However, making small tweaks to the diet and incorporating additional nutrients can help you feel healthier in 2023.
It’s often said that one shouldn’t drink their calories, but there are times when a little extra splash of a beverage is just what you need. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, functional foods are generally those that have a potentially beneficial effect on health when consumed on a regular basis (1). This means that choosing certain nutrients regularly may positively impact your overall health. A healthy drink that contains nutrients the body needs may be a good choice if your busy lifestyle leaves you struggling to get the nutrition it needs.
We’ve rounded up our 7 best healthy drinks to be on the lookout for this year. Here is a list of healthy drinks to consider:
Kombucha
Kombucha is fermented tea, and thanks to its recent popularity, you can find it pretty much everywhere and in a wide variety of flavors. Kombucha is a source of probiotics, which helps add healthy bacteria to your gut. Look for refrigerated kombucha, which keeps the probiotic bacteria alive.
Read More: What are Probiotics? A Quick Guide to Finding Balance
Kefir
While on the topic of probiotics and gut health, you might want to include a glass of kefir in your daily routine. Kefir is a fermented drink that is widely known around the world for its gut health benefits. It can be made with a base of dairy or juice, but most often, you’ll see it as a dairy-based drink. It can be made with dairy or plant-based milk, comes in various flavor, and is similar in texture and taste to drinkable yogurt with a little tang from the fermentation. When made from milk, you’ll get protein, calcium, magnesium, and B vitamins, making it ideal for drinking every day.
Nootropic Drinks
Nootropics are substances which may improve thinking, learning, and memory (2,3). Caffeine is considered a nootropic ingredient as it can help with the performance of cognitive tasks and can support mental alertness. One of the most familiar and popular sources of caffeine is the good ole’ coffee bean. So, if you’re a coffee drinker, you’re probably already using caffeine for these benefits.
Besides caffeine, there are many other nootropic ingredients added to the drinks you’ll find in the beverage aisle. So be it coffee, tea, or an energy drink check out the facts panel to learn, experiment and find what works best for you.
Read More: A Workout Powerhouse: Caffeine
Mocktails
Going dry is a trend that’s here to stay, so it only makes sense that transforming your formerly alcohol containing drink to one that contains none, will make its way to your kitchen. Creating your own mocktails is a job best left to you. This way, you can stay in control of the ingredients and how much added sugar makes its way into your drink. Making your own mocktail is a great way to add functional and healthy foods to your diet —more fruits, fermented drinks, and hydration. When making your own mocktail, use fresh fruit when you can, 100% fruit juice, and sparkling waters for extra flavor and fizz.
Tea
If you have one wish for 2023, maybe it should be about peace and relaxation. Tea is popular in many cultures, but harnessing the benefits of tea for your own health may be the trendiest of all. There are so many types of tea to choose from. One of our favorites is sleepy time tea! Its basic formula is a mix of chamomile, mint, and lemongrass, which are naturally caffeine-free. And who doesn’t love drinking a warm and soothing beverage before bedtime? It may be just the trend you need to get those sought-after ZZZs.
And while a warm soothing cup of tea is good for some, a nice glass of iced tea works better for others. Any way you dice it, tea provides additional benefits like mental energy from caffeine, and antioxidants for cellular defense. Green tea deserves an additional shout out for containing EGCG which provides metabolism support AND the amino acid l-theanine, which is known for its calm and relaxing benefits.
Electrolyte Waters
The market for electrolyte powders exploded in 2022, and 2023 is shaping up to be another year of electrolyte fascination. Electrolytes are compounds in your body that help regulate a variety of reactions and help maintain fluid balance. A few of the common electrolytes you might find in your favorite drink or powder are sodium, potassium, and magnesium. If you’re working out a lot and you’re a heavy sweater, you may be losing electrolytes in your sweat that you need to replace through diet.
Read More: What to Drink for Electrolytes? Water or Sports Drink?
Wellness Shots
You’ve probably seen these little shots of goodness in the perishable juice section of your grocery store and wondered if they are worth the price tag. With shots for digestive health, immune support, and energy enhancement, they’re all formulated to meet a specific need. These little drinks are low in calories and contain none or small amounts of added sugar — making them a practical addition to most diet patterns.
And there you have it! Our top 7 picks of healthy beverages to include in the New Year to help support you’re journey in Living Well!
1. https://www.eatright.org/health/wellness/healthful-habits/functional-foods
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9415189/
3. https://connects.catalyst.harvard.edu/Profiles/display/Concept/Nootropic%20Agents