# Need a healthy beverage **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 12, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775 "2013-06-12T01:13:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775/1 "2013-06-12T01:13:20Z")
I want to drink more liquids but need at least a tiny bit more flavor than water offers. But though I love diet ice tea, I’m hoping to find something without sugar, caffeine, or artificial sweeteners. Does such a thing exist? Perhaps some sort of chilled herbal tea? Maybe just a dash of lemon in the water would suffice? What do you recommend? ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775/2 "2013-06-12T01:34:20Z")
I’ve pretty much quit drinking soda/colas. I really enjoy the flavored seltzer waters that are available - The LaCroix ones are really good. [http://www.lacroixwater.com/](http://www.lacroixwater.com/) Also, the droplet type drinks, like Mio are good 'cause you can just add a teensy bit. They still have artificial sweeteners and flavors, but you can control the amount and ween yourself off of them altogether if you want. ---
**Author:** ![Rhiannon8404](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rhiannon8404/32/17929_2.png) [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775/3 "2013-06-12T01:54:14Z")
I like a variety of herbal and flavored black teas, iced, without any sweeteners at all. The hint of mango or blackberry or whatever is enough. I also like flavored seltzers/sparkling waters. I usually have Crystal Geyser sparkling water with some flavor like lime or berry. When I want a soda, I like Zevia which has stevia and erythritol, both natural zero calorie sweeteners. The ginger root beer is my favorite. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775/4 "2013-06-12T02:11:48Z")
I’m fond of teas, myself, both black and herbal. Though I generally just drink them hot. That may seem counterintuitive in the summer, but the temperature of a beverage actually makes very little difference. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775/5 "2013-06-12T02:18:22Z")
Water, lemon juice, Truvia (stevia) all mixed to taste. Voilà. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775/6 "2013-06-12T02:20:54Z")
I make both black and green iced teas in the summer. Brewed on the countertop in a gallon pitcher. Fill with tap water and tea bags either before leaving for work, or before going to bed. When I either get home or get up, put the pitcher in the fridge. If you like it lightly sweetened, a touch of Stevia goes a long way. Personally, I prefer to avoid the acid from even a little citrus unless I’m eating it. But a dash of any fruit juice also is nice with either kind of tea if that’s your preference. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775/7 "2013-06-12T02:40:58Z")
I drink black ice tea with no sugar in it. No calories but all the caffeine I need. One point, drinking copious amounts of black tea can make it hard for your body to absorb iron from plant-based foods. So don’t drink it non-stop. Otherwise, water with berries (I like raspberries), mint and cucumber, or mint and melon are great alternatives to just plain water. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775/8 "2013-06-12T07:25:11Z")
A squeeze of lemon in water is a nice way to make it tasty. Beyond that, consider herbal teas for your ice tea-- those sometimes require less sweetening. I love anise and licorice teas; those taste quite sweet even with no sugar at all. ---
**Author:** ![RebeccaZager](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/87869e/32.png) [@RebeccaZager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RebeccaZager)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775/9 "2013-06-12T09:30:12Z")
Healthy drinks contais disease fighting nutrients.Healthy drink includes green tea,mint tea,soy milk,hot chocolate,low sodium tomato juice.These drinks helps us to reduce the risk of osteoporosis,heart diseases,muscles cramp,cancer etc . Healthy beverages necessary to maintain fluid & electrolyte balance in the body. ---
**Author:** ![PeacePlease](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/71c47a/32.png) [@PeacePlease](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PeacePlease)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775/10 "2013-06-12T10:17:12Z")
Fucking water. Everyone, doctors, your Mom says it’s the way to go. Still…can’t do it. However, I give myself props for turning from Coke (the real thing!) to Code Zero. Can I get an amen? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [June 12, 2013, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-a-healthy-beverage/660775/11 "2013-06-12T12:27:01Z")
Seltzer is a very good alternative to water, especially the flavored varieties. No sugar or sweeteners, a just a little bit of flavoring. Sparkling mineral water is even better. S. Pelegrino is especially good, and Perrier will do in a pinch. There are many varieties to choose from, too, but those two are the easiest to find. They have a subtle flavor, but it more than just plain water. If you like the hard stuff, there’s Gerolsteiner, which is definitely _ **mineral** _ water.