Superdrinks to Pair with Your Superfoods
You’ve probably heard of many “superfoods”; nutrient-filled foods with many benefits— from antioxidant-packed berries capable of reducing heart issues, to nausea-managing ginger roots.[1] Increasing our intake of these foods is a great way to manage and improve our health. But wouldn’t it be nice if we had a “superdrink” to pair alongside our “superfoods”? Something that has numerous benefits beyond just tasting good? Here are three that may be worth trying!
Golden Milk
Golden milk, traditionally made by mixing turmeric with milk, is a great way to add to the benefits already found within milk. Milk, for example, is known to have a lot of calcium in it which can help strengthen your bones. Turmeric, meanwhile, contains the compound curcumin which affects one’s mood in a similar way to anti-depressants.[2] Additionally, golden milk can help with blood pressure and has been shown to have both anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.[3]
Hot Cocoa (or Iced Chocolate)
Any drink made of cocoa powder, whether hot or cold— with moderate usage of sugar, of course— can be a surprisingly healthy choice. The amazing compounds found in cocoa powder, known as flavanols, can help the body in many ways; from enhancing memory, to some studies showing a possible decrease in the risk of cancer. Additionally, they help improve blood flow by enhancing nitric oxide levels.[4] If you opt for a low or no sugar form of the drink, the low sugar content, coupled with its ability to make you feel full, and its way of keeping metabolism in check, can also help with weight management.[5]
Ginger Tea
While ginger itself is considered a superfood when consumed as an ingredient in a dish, it can also be seen as a superdrink in its liquid form— ginger tea. Ginger tea has several wonderful properties. One, for instance, is an anti-nausea effect, caused by a compound called gingerols. Hence, those with certain nausea-inducing causations, such as chemotherapy or pregnancy, may find solace in a cup of ginger tea.[6] Another property found in ginger is both its antibacterial and antiviral effects, especially when combined with honey. Several studies have found that ginger is effective against strep bacteria, as well as the syncytial virus.[7]
Sources:
1. Hill, A. (2018, July 9). 16 Superfoods That Are Worthy of the Title. Healthline. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/true-superfoods#TOC_TITLE_HDR_9
2. Petre, A. (2018, September 12). 10 Benefits of Golden (Turmeric) Milk and How to Make It. Healthline. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/golden-milk-turmeric#TOC_TITLE_HDR_10
3. Butler, N. (2019, January 15). What are the Benefits of Golden Milk? Medical News Daily. Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324181
4. Mandl, E. (2018, August 9). 11 Health and Nutrition Benefits of Cocoa Powder. Healthline. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/cocoa-powder-nutrition-benefits#TOC_TITLE_HDR_4
5. WebMD. (n.d.) Health Benefits of Cocoa Powder. WebMD. Retrieved from: https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cocoa-powder
6. Scaccia, A. (2020, April 21). What Are the Health Benefits of Ginger Tea? Healthline. Retrieved from: https://www.healthline.com/health/food-nutrition/benefits-ginger-tea#morning-sickness-or-chemotherapy
7. Richards, L. (2020, October 23). What Are the Benefits of Drinking Ginger Tea? Medical News Today. Retrieved from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/ginger-tea-benefits#sore-throats-and-colds
Article by: Jonathan A. Watson