Healthy beverages?
Or drowning your
money in trash drinks?
Suppose an advertising company widely and vigorously advertised an oil substitute for your
car that was a lot cheaper than regular oil. It smelled better, too.
Easy to pour, pretty containers. You had a nearly new car that was your prize
possession. You wanted to keep it in top condition. The oil substitute sounded
like a good idea. The only problem was that while it filled the lubricating system,
it had very little lubricating properties. In other words, down the line your engine
was going to be in big doo-doo. You continue to use it, though. Smart
move?
How long do you think this company would stay in
business? How long before bunches of angry consumers sued them?
Never the less, most households do just that with another prize possession:
the health of the family members.
Sodas, fruit flavored ades, coolers, punch, nectars, powdered drink concentrates, and more
all claim "made with real fruit juice" and "full daily recommended amount
of Vitamin C". Great taste, more pep, easy to use and attractive
containers. Available from vending machines everywhere. This is a
multi-million dollar industry; millions are spent on advertising alone.
The problem is that in most cases the "real fruit juice"
is a minor ingredient, often only 5% or 10% of the total volume. The minimum daily
requirement of Vitamin C is far less than most experts feel is necessary for good health,
so that isn't really a good guide to use. Most of them are full of dyes, artificial
flavors, sugars and additives, and missing are the other vitamins, antioxidants and
various healthy compound in natural fruit.
Well, perhaps you feel those drinks aren't really dangerous or they wouldn't be allowed on
the market, and besides, family members like them. So what's the harm? For one
thing, a normal person takes in only enough calories on the average, daily, to
maintain weight at its present "set-point". Add up the calories consumed
daily from these drinks, and you will see that they are taking the place of real food in
the diet.
So why do we drown our money in nearly useless and possible harmful
colored, flavored artificially made fluids? Convenience, advertising, the kids
like them, caffeine addiction, sugar craving, and overall they are cheaper.
Like the fake lubricant we bought for our new car. And down the line we will pay for
it.
What's the solution? Make a hard and fast rule: no more
junk drinks on the grocery list. Let the kids spend their allowance on soft
drinks if they want, but provide only healthy drinks at home. Buy some nice
covered pitchers or juice containers for the refrigerator door and keep them filled.
Buy some large foam-type thermos jugs for picnics, on the job, in the car or at sports
events. Stock the refrigerator with single serving bottles or cans of favorite
juices. Buy an electric citrus juicer if you don't have one. Blenders
are useful; we especially like the stick blender for use in a large drinking glass
or similar container. Make it really convenient to prepare and drink good stuff.
What should you drink?
Lemonade (it can be made sugar free if required for health reasons).
Iced tea (research shows it may fight cancer, rheumatoid
arthritis and other ailments, especially green tea).
Tomato juice or V-8 (contains among other compounds lycopene, a
potent cancer-fighting agent).
Orange juice (research indicates it also fights cancer).
Apple juice or cider
Grape juice (recent news are that its antioxidants combat ill effects
of second hand smoke and air pollution).
Other pure fruit juices
Chocolate milk.
Fruit slushies made with fresh or frozen real fruit, sugar if
required, and water, milk or yogurt. Add a little fruit flavoring if you like, or
try cinnamon.
Herbal teas, hot or cold, with honey or a little sugar if you need it
sweeter.
How to get them to drink it? Have some nice glasses and
lots of ice. Buy straws. Serve it to them on a pretty tray. Let them
have lots of choice. If they balk and there's nothing else in the house, let'em have
plain water. If they're really thirsty, they'll drink what's available!
All this may sometimes cost a little more money, but it is cash well
spent, not thrown away on junk. Protect your personal motors!
