Are Health Drinks Really Healthy?

5 min read

Wheatgrass smoothies. Coconut water. Charcoal. Even vinegar. The list of “healthy” drinks is seemingly never ending with new trends appearing daily, but are they really any good for you?

We all know plain old water is perfect for keeping you hydrated, but it can be a little boring. Fruit waters bring taste to the table and, if they’re fortified with extra vitamins and minerals, then all the better – right?

Truthfully, it’s a bit of a grey area. More black than grey. More it’s a load of hogwash than grey.

Yes Muscle Food fans, some of those trendy health drinks touted by your favourite fitspos are only as good as the very clever marketing strategies behind them.

Water enhanced with vitamins? Please. If you are relying on water for your vitamins and minerals then you’d be better critically looking at your diet and making healthy adjustments accordingly.

Don’t get us wrong – we love the refreshing taste of chilled coconut water and if something promises to be a wonder hangover cure, then obviously we’re going to try it, but before you place unbridled faith in something, we think you ought to know all the facts…

So, we’ve done a bit of digging into 5 of the trendiest health drinks blowing up social media today to find out if they’re really any good at all.

Coconut Water

Coconut water has been around for a few years but its popularity shows no sign of waning any time soon.

According to the marketers, this potassium rich drink enhances your ability to absorb water during exercise and helps you rehydrate faster post workout thanks to its bounty of electrolytes.

It also tastes amazing.

However, there is no scientific verdict to confirm this hyper-hydrating theory.  In fact, studies have proven than coconut water is no better or worse at hydrating than normal, regular, got it from your kitchen tap water.

If it were true, you would be putting yourself at risk of overhydration!   Plus, many coconut waters you can buy have extra additives including sugar, which negates the “health” benefits of this trendy beverage.

Yet, one fact does remain – the 100% pure stuff tastes incredible.  So if you fancy a tastier water alternative then coconut water is a great shout.

But if you're only drinking it for hydration purposes, you very well could be wasting your hard earned cash.

Matcha Tea

From Matcha cakes to Matcha smoothies, it seems this ancient green tea is everywhere, which is perfectly understandable considering it’s known as, “the ultimate mental and medical remedy [with the] ability to make one’s life more full and complete.”

Big statement.

It's praised for being rich in catechins, a potent antioixdant, and has small amounts of vitamins and minerals – but does it work?

Well… a number of studies suggest that drinking pure Matcha Green Tea can confer health benefits, although the evidence is still inconclusive.

Basically, scientists have agreed that Matcha can do you good, but what that is exactly remains a bit of a mystery with it being linked to a reduced risk of cancers to weight loss.

Other studies have shown drinking a cup of Matcha can speed post workout recovery and boost immunity as well as promote a feeling of “calm alertness” with none of the jitters associated with coffee.

However these benefits depend entirely on how the tea is prepared and consumed with a traditionally brewed tea having the best results.

Wheatgrass Smoothies

If you search the word Wheatgrass, you will be faced with over 7 million results most pertaining as to why Wheatgrass is so unbelievably fabulous.

Reasons include:

  • It contains all minerals known to man including vitamins A, B and C.
  • It's a rich source of protein.
  • It contains chlorophyll – important for “building blood.”
  • It's a potent antioxidant.

The lists go on and on.  Essentially Wheatgrass is touted as the elixir of life itself.  But, science is yet to prove any of these “truths.”

In fact, studies have shown that it is highly unlikely you will benefit more from drinking a glass of Wheatgrass a day over munching green veg like broccoli or spinach with dietician Alison Hornby of the British Dietetics Association saying:

There is no sound evidence to support the claim that Wheatgrass is better than other fruits and vegetables in terms of nutrition.  It cannot be recommended above any other choices in this food group.

Although it contributes towards your recommended daily intake of fruit and veg, a single shot of Wheatgrass doesn’t count as one of your 5-a-day.

Beetroot Juice

It may taste like earth but Beetroot Juice is one trendy health drink that has been scientifically proven to work!

Rich in nitrates, beetroot juice can help relax blood vessels and improve blood circulation as well as give your body a healthy dose of vitamin C, B vitamins and potassium.

It's also been shown to lower blood pressure, but it is advised you drink it in moderation, as it can be very high in sugar.

Charcoal

Everywhere you look people are flaunting black teeth, black cappuccinos and black water thanks to this latest health drinks trend.   It promises to not only whiten your teeth but also banish your hangovers to yesteryear and beyond.

Charcoal began its meteoric rise to fame in 2014 after good old Gwynnie Paltrow “confirmed” it as a fantastic way to detox and cleanse your body.

Since then we’ve seen this activated black substance being added to everything on social media in the hope of ridding our bodies of harmful toxins.

In truth, charcoal is used in detoxification but real detoxification is a treatment for a medical emergency when a poisoning may be life-threatening.  Not when you’ve had one too many white-wine spritzers the night before.

Furthermore, you need to ingest huge doses of activated charcoal to clear the digestive system of harmful substances, so that one shot in your fancy cappuccino is going to do nothing.

This is one trendy drink that won't work – best stick to water…


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MuscleFood

MuscleFood. The way we sound is as bright, delicious and vibrant as the way we look. Delicious food. Delicious goals. Delicious value.