What are Healthy Drinks?

Sugarcane juice and coconut water are ideal thirst quenching drinks that keep you cool during the summers. They are healthier alternatives to colas or fruit juices. These natural drinks are free from chemicals and offer a plethora of health benefits such as weight loss, improved digestion and glowing skin.

Consuming sugarcane juice mixed with lime juice, ginger juice and coconut water can cure gonorrhoea, cystitis and nephritis.

Sugarcane Juice

Sugarcane is the raw material from which table sugar is made. Sugarcane juice is obtained by crushing peeled sugarcane in a machine. Drinking sugarcane juice is one of the easiest ways to beat dehydration and heat stroke during the summers.

Nutritional Value of sugarcane juice

Nutritional information for 100 g of sugarcane juice is as follows:

Energy – 39 calories
Carbohydrates – 9 g
Fat – 0 g
Protein – 0 g
Calcium – 10 mg

Health Benefits of Sugarcane Juice

Loaded with glucose and electrolytes sugarcane juice functions as an instant energy booster. It relieves burning sensation caused by urinary tract infections (UTI) and is one of the best home remedies for cold and flu. Although sugarcane juice is a low glycemic index food and does not cause fluctuations in blood glucose levels, people suffering from type-2 diabetes should limit its consumption.

Other health benefits derived from drinking sugarcane juice include:

Combats Cancer:

A study published in the Journal of Photochemistry demonstrated that flavones present in sugarcane juice combat production and spread of cancerous cells, particularly prostate and breast cancers.

Glowing Skin:
Sugarcane juice contains flavonoids and phenolic compounds, which make the skin healthy, soft and supple and prevent early ageing and wrinkles. It cleanses the body through detoxification.

Liver Functioning:

Sugarcane juice keeps bilirubin levels in check. High bilirubin levels result in jaundice. According to the Journal of Asian Functional Foods, sugarcane juice protects the liver from damage and acts as a palliative to a damaged liver. It can speed up the recovery process after jaundice.

Digestive Tonic:
Being a potassium-rich drink, sugarcane juice improves digestion through peristalsis of food in the GI tract. It acts as a microbial agent by preventing occurrence of stomach infections and combats constipation.

Coconut Water

Coconut water is a low calorie, fat and cholesterol-free and hydrating liquid found inside a young coconut and is nicknamed "Mother Nature’s sports drink". It is a refreshing drink with a perfect electrolyte balance to replenish lost salts due to dehydration in the sweltering summer heat.

Besides being a thirst quencher, coconut water provides an array of health benefits like prevention of muscle cramps, healthier hair and skin, cure from hangovers and help with weight loss.

Michelle Forbes quoted, “I'm completely addicted to coconut water for the electrolytes and hydration.”

Health Benefits of Coconut Water

Coconut water cures heartburn and acidity in pregnant women. Cytokinins such as kinetin and trans-zeatin found in coconut water possess anti-ageing, anti-carcinogenic and anti-thrombotic(anti-clot formation) properties.

Other health benefits that you can derive from drinking coconut water are:

Cures Hangovers:
Alcohol consumption causes oxidative stress and depletes electrolytes. Coconut water with its store of electrolytes, fluid and anti-oxidants provides the perfect cure for hangovers.

Aids Digestion:
Coconut water contains bioactive enzymes like acid phosphatase, catalase, dehydrogenase, diastase, peroxidase and RNA-polymerases, which facilitate digestion.

Combats Hypertension:
Coconut water is an excellent source of potassium and a good source of calcium and magnesium. These three minerals have an inverse relation with blood pressure. However, hypertensive patients taking medications must restrict coconut water consumption as it may cause very low blood pressure.

Weight Loss:
Coconut is a complete no-no for weight loss due to its fat content. However, coconut water contains negligible amounts of fat and staves off cravings for wrong foods like sweets and fried foods. It contains significant amount of B-complex vitamins, which rev up metabolism.

Skin Tonic:
Coconut water is an ideal moisturizer for people with oily skin since it reduces oiliness of skin. It boosts blood circulation, which results in healthy and flawless skin texture. It nourishes and hydrates skin through its bevy of nutrients and replenishes skin oils. Topical application of coconut water clears acne, wrinkles and stretch marks.

Good for Hair:
Coconut water improves blood circulation in the scalp, strengthens hair follicles and increases hair density thus combating hair fall issues. Lauric acid present in coconut water protects hair roots against breakage.