Can cold drinks keep you hydrated and healthy in summer?

Drinking plenty of fresh juices is one of the healthiest ways to beat the sweltering summer heat. It refreshes the soul and replenish the body with minerals and vitamins. However, the magic happens only when the juices are freshly extracted from fruits and are devoid of artificial additives

In the draft guidelines given by the Food Safety Authority, it is clearly mentioned that juices should have the taste and aroma of fresh fruits. Besides, they shouldn’t contain any seeds. The fruits used should also be naturally ripened.

'They aren't real juices'
Health experts say that the cool drinks that are sold in tetra packs, cans or bottles aren’t real juices. They could, instead, be termed as carbonated soft drinks. Meanwhile, ‘juices’ that are sold in cans are not real fruit juices either and do not have any nutritional value. These are just drinks in which the smell and flavour of fruits are artificially added. It is not good to drink such cold drinks when you are profusely sweating.

Even though such drinks instantly quench your thirst, they can affect your health later. Moreover, they will make you thirstier and could make you feel weak too, as such drinks do not contain any nutrients. Besides, these drinks are loaded with sugar which is not good for health. Half a litre of cold drink contains around ten teaspoons of sugar. High fructose corn syrup is added in these drinks to make them sweeter. Moreover, they contain high doses of caffeine too.

Caffeine could make you addicted to such drinks. So, overconsumption of such drinks could increase urination which leads to loss of essential minerals from the body. Carbonated drinks fill the stomach with carbon dioxide which may lead to lack of appetite, stomach ache and gastric troubles.

Diet drinks
Soft drinks that come with the tags ‘sugar free’ or ‘diet drink’ too aren’t that great for health. They may have grabbed the market by promising to nourish your health or reduce the body weight. Researchers have found no scientific evidence to prove these claims. Meanwhile, experts point out that these ‘diet drinks’ pose the same danger as sugary cold drinks.

Natural juice
Tender coconut water and lemonades are wonderful natural juices that are extremely refreshing and easily available. Besides, rice water and buttermilk are also excellent summer drinks that can replenish your body. However, kidney patients and those who suffer from heart ailments should drink these only after seeking advice from their doctor.

Fruit juices
When juice is extracted from fresh fruits, the fibre content is lost. However, fruit juices are great for quenching thirst and to refresh the body. They are loaded with vitamins, anti-oxidants and all the essential nutrients. Make sure you wash the fruits well before extracting the juice.

Fruits could be soaked in water mixed with salt, vinegar and turmeric powder before juicing them. Make sure to use clean water to make juice. As fruit juices are naturally sweet, there is no need to add extra sugar. You could use water stored in earthen pots instead of ice if you prefer the juice cold.

Seasonal fruits like watermelon, orange, mangoes, mosambi and carrots could be used to make juice. However, those who have diabetes and blood pressure should consume fruit juices only after consulting the doctor. It is better to avoid drinking juice at night. You could drinks a glass of fresh fruit juice along with breakfast or one hour before lunch. There is no need to drink more than two glasses of fresh fruit juice in a day.