Juice Plus+® is a healthy source of antioxidants because it contains nutrients from a variety of fruits and vegetables. The leading recommended nutritional supplement of The Health & Wellness Institute, Juice Plus+® supports a healthy diet.
Ironically, while we need fluids for our very survival, continually choosing the wrong ones may push your health out of balance. So here we’ve detailed some of the best of the best when it comes to good-for-you drink choices. With these healthy beverages you really can do no wrong.
1. Water
Water is crucial for survival -- it's the base of all your body fluids, like blood and digestive juices, it helps nutrients from your food get absorbed and be transported, and it helps eliminate waste. Even becoming mildly dehydrated (when you lose as little as 1 percent to 2 percent of your body weight) can seriously impact your body's ability to function.
How much water do you need? It's commonly said that you should drink eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day to stay healthy, but this is really just a rule of thumb, as so many factors (weather, age, activity level, health) affect how much water your body needs.
In general, you can prevent dehydration by focusing on staying hydrated throughout the day. Keep water with you and drink it regularly -- before you get thirsty. If it's hot outside or you're exercising (or pregnant or breastfeeding), you'll need even more fluids so drink more water.
A word of caution: not all water is good for you. Tap water can be potentially contaminated with chemicals, pesticides or even pharmaceutical drugs. And bottled water, which is regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), has weaker regulations than the Environmental Protection Agency requires for tap water.
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A good filtration system combines the best filtration and enhancement technologies to deliver the purest and most natural tasting water available. |
Plus, the bottles used for water often contain bisphenol-A (BPA), a chemical that mimics the female hormone estrogen, impacting fertility, reproductive health and potentially promoting cancer, heart disease, diabetes and liver problems.
To put your mind at ease and get safe, superior quality water that will promote your health rather than harm it. That will help reduce chlorine, chloramines, cysts, VOCs, pesticides, and herbicides below detectable levels for higher quality.
The Wellness Kitchen combines the best filtration and enhancement technologies to deliver the purest and most natural tasting water available. It effectively reduces harmful contaminants, while at the same time enhancing the water with adding important yet delicate wellness "ions and minerals" that your body needs.
One good brand is Wellness H2.O.
The Wellness H2.O is a personal, reusable BPA-free water bottle that features a unique filtration system that not only purifies ordinary tap water, but also enhances the water for better absorption and hydration. With this special filtration process you'll have access to high quality water wherever you go.
2. Green Tea (and Other Varieties)
Green Tea has emerged as a major natural player in fighting diseases like heart disease and cancer and helping with weight loss. Many people sip it religiously everyday in the hopes that it will make them healthier. Here is just a short list of some of the conditions green tea is supposed to help:
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Cancer
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Rheumatoid arthritis
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High cholesterol levels
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Heart disease
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Infection
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Impaired immune function
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Obesity, overweight
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High blood sugar levels
Many of the health benefits are attributed to the fact that green tea is a rich source of catechin polyphenols, namely epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is a potent antioxidant. Other types of tea, such as black tea, may also have healthy antioxidant benefits, so feel free to expand your tea repertoire beyond green tea if you’re so inclined.
3. High-Antioxidant 100% Fruit Juice
Fruit juice is high in sugar and because of this, special attention must be made when selecting. And though most experts will unanimously agree that eating the whole fruit is always better than drinking fruit juice, certain types of juice do have their benefits.
A University of California, Los Angeles, study ranked 10 beverages according to their levels of disease-fighting antioxidants, and concluded that the 10 best were mostly fruit juices. The most antioxidant-rich beverages they found were:
- Pomegranate juice
- Red wine
- Concord grape juice
- Blueberry juice
- Black cherry juice
- Açaí juice
- Cranberry juice
- Orange juice
- Tea
- Apple juice
If you do choose to drink juice, doing so in moderation is recommended. Further, there are major differences in juice quality out there. Here's what to look for, and avoid, when choosing a fruit juice for yourself or your child:
- Choose 100-percent fruit juice only, not those from concentrate.
- Avoid "fruit drinks," "fruit-juice cocktails," "fruit beverages," and any juices that have added sugars, flavors or colors.
- Choose dark-colored fruit juices (such as grape, cranberry, pomegranate, and blueberry), as they're rich in antioxidants.
- Look for juice that has sediment on the bottom of the jar. This means the fruit skins, which are very nutritious, were used in the processing (and be sure to shake the bottle up before your pour a glass).
- If you love fruit juice but want to limit your calories, mix half a serving with sparkling water.
If you don't get enough antioxidants in your diet with fruits, vegetables, and even juice consumption, then we recommended Juice Plus+® antioxidant nutritional supplement. Juice Plus+® contains nutrients from a variety of fruits and vegetables. Try a 4-month supply.
Dr. J. Patrick Havey
Official Juice Plus+® Independent Distributor
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