Healthy Drinks

Drink Yourself Slim

By Myatt Murphy

What you choose to quench your thirst could go a long way towards helping you shed those unwanted pounds. No matter kind of drink you're after -- electrolyte replacements, energy boosters, high-in-fiber, or protein-filled -- we have the best beverages to keep you hydrated while boosting your weight loss.

Getty

Green Tea

We Choose: Vida Tea Ultra Premium Sparkling Green Tea

The Weight-Loss Edge: Studies have shown that drinking green tea can raise your metabolism. It's also rich in catechins, a polyphenolic antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory properties, so you have less aches and pains when you exercise. Studies have also shown that catechins may prevent your body from storing as much fat.

Why We Love This One: Vida Tea comes in three delicious flavors (desert pear, wild berry and pomegranate) and gets its taste from organic agave nectar, which is low-glycemic so it won't cause a rise in your blood sugar, and trigger your body to store excess calories as fat.



Vida Tea

Antioxidants

We Choose: Sambazon Organic Açaí Juice

The Weight-Loss Edge: These helpful substances do a lot more than just prevent cardiovascular disease and help slow down the aging process. Exercising raises the level of free radicals in your system, which can damage cells and increase your risk of injury and fatigue. Getting a diet rich in antioxidants can help eradicate excess free radicals, which may help your body rebuild itself faster on a cellular level so you feel more alert and energized while you experience less muscle fatigue.


Why We Love This One: For those heart-conscious, Sambazon is also loaded with anthocyanins (antioxidant flavanoids that help with anti-inflammation), phytosterols (plant sterols that boost your health), amino acids, vitamins and minerals. But what makes it unique is that they don't strip out any of the important essential fatty acids to reduce calories. The result: each drink contains a whopping 35 mg of Omega-3's, 340 mg of Omega-6's and 1530 mg of Omega-9 fatty acids.

Sambazon

Calcium

We Choose: Farmland Dairies' Special Request Skim Plus

The Weight-Loss Edge: The mistake many dieters make is following diets that limit how much dairy they should eat -- leaving their bodies lacking in key vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. The problem? Studies have shown that getting plenty of calcium in your diet actually keeps you leaner by increasing fat-burning potential, while decreasing how much fat your body can store.

Why We Love This One: This fat-free, 100 percent cow's milk contains no artificial hormones or antibiotics and comes in mini 12-ounce grab-n-go bottles. But what makes it unique is that it contains 37 percent more protein and 34 percent more calcium than whole milk.

Farmland Dairies

Water

We Choose: HINT Water

The Weight-Loss Edge: Keeping yourself properly hydrated throughout the day can leave you feeling fuller and decrease your appetite without adding a single calorie. It also keeps your metabolism churning, since being dehydrated can slow it down.

Why We Love This One: Unlike many flavored waters that add excess sugar and calories, this top contender doesn't have a trace of sugar, sweeteners, sodium or preservatives. It's just as healthy as regular water, yet comes in 13 guilt-free flavors.





Hint

Water

Another Favorite: Skinny Water

Why We Love This One: It's fortified with good-for-you nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants that may help suppress your appetite. While it comes in fewer flavors than HINT water, you still have plenty of satisfying, zero-calorie options. Now, that's a weight-loss bonus.



Skinny Water

Fiber

We Choose: Lightfull Satiety Smoothie

The Weight-Loss Edge: As fiber expands in your stomach, it takes up volume in your stomach, giving you the sensation of feeling fuller and less likely to eat more food than you really need. It also speeds up digestion, so the foods you do eat pass through your system quickly and fewer calories are absorbed and stored elsewhere on your body.

Why We Love This One:Weighing in at just 90 calories per 8.25 ounce bottle and available in five yummy flavors (chocolate, café latte, peachy cream, strawberry bliss and mango), one LightFull smoothie contains 5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein, a mix that can curb your appetite and leave you feeling full for an average of two to three hours.



Lightfull

Fiber

Another Favorite: Kellogg's All-Bran Fiber Drink Mix

Why We Love This One:The easy-pour packets fit right in your pocket or purse, mixes instantly with water and contains a whopping 10 grams of fiber (that's 40 percent of what experts recommend you should have daily in one tasty serving).



Kellogg's

Protein

We Choose: Designer Whey's Protein Blitz

The Weight-Loss Edge: The more lean muscle you have, the more calories your body burns even when you're not doing a thing. Another bonus: Your body spends more calories digesting protein compared to carbohydrates and fats, plus, it helps you feel more full so you're less hungry.

Why We Love This One:Packed with 30 grams of high-quality whey protein, this non-fat, super-low carb drink (it has 1g of carbs) tastes just like juice and has only 120 calories. Most protein drinks tend to be thicker in texture, harder to digest and loaded with unnecessary fat and carbs.



Designer Whey

Caffeine

We Choose: FYXX Energy Water

The Weight-Loss Edge: Many dieters look to caffeine to jumpstart their metabolism by giving their central nervous system a boost. But that effect can be minimal. Instead, it's best used as to give yourself a little more push with your exercise regime. Research has shown that having 140 to 400 mg of caffeine 30 to 60 minutes prior to exercise can increase your heart rate and breathing, which can increase your endurance so you last longer -- and burn more calories.

Why We Love This One: FYXX is natural spring water -- that means no calories and no sodium -- but each 20-ounce bottle is infused with 110 mg of caffeine. Don't worry -- it's tasteless!


FYXX