What’s your favorite homemade soft drink? Is the fresh fruit juice, smoothie or just a fresh lemon drink?
Well, it may depend on your preference as the time goes by during the day. But, surely, as you know, freshly prepared drink is the best for your health.
Not only it quenches your thirst, but also it smoothes, clears and softens your throat and system.
In fact, when these are consumed on a regular basis, they make your immune system much stronger to fight against virus and bacteria, especially keeps you safe and healthy from contagious infections like Covid-19, cold or flu.
Let’s read about each of these homemade soft drinks and juices prepared from vegetables, fruits and probiotics.
1. Carrot Juice
Fresh carrot juice has 39 calories / 100 g and it provides a variety of vitamins and minerals. It contains antioxidants that help even in the prevention of stomach cancer apart from helping your body to fight inflammation, cell damage and free radicals.
Vitamin C in carrot juice provides an immune system boost helping you fight through cold and flu.
If you are using canned carrot juice, it contains:
- 94 kilocalories
- 2.24 g of protein
- 0.35 g of fat
- 21.9 g of carbohydrate
- 1.89 g of fiber
(Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central)
The vitamins in carrot juice: (same amount)
- 689 mg of potassium
- 20.1 mg of vitamin C
- 0.217 mg of vitamin B-1
- 2.256 mcg of Vitamin A
- 36.6 mcg of Vitamin K
- 0.512 mcg of B-6
To make the juice more tasty – add a squeeze of lemon / lime, drizzle some pepper, a piece of ginger and a teaspoon of honey.
Mix it well before consumption
Peel and wash thoroughly before blending. Use juicer preferably to extract pulp easily.
2. Beet, carrot, and ginger
These three root vegetables are an excellent source for immunity boost. Known as healthy homemade drinks for all seasons, you will enjoy its preparation.
Wash the vegetables clean before peeling and chopping them into small chunks.
Blend and make a puree or use juice extractor.
Most often, inflammation originating from virus or bacteria releases symptoms like cold, flu, that result in runny nose, cough and body aches.
Ginger has anti-inflammatory effects.
Nutrients in one serving:
- Potassium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B-6
- Vitamin B-9
Add a teaspoon of honey, a gentle squeeze of lime / lemon, some pepper, cumin to enhance the taste.
Try it early morning at the time.of having your breakfast.
Morning hour is the best for vegetable juice.
(Optional: you can add an apple if you wish to add Vitamin C)
3. Tomatoes
Do you like fresh baby / cherry or the riped tomatoes? They look so beautiful.
Keep a pack of fresh tomatoes in your refrigerator. With just very few ingredients, you can make a delicious fresh tomato juice every day and the best benefit is tomatoes are rich in Vitamin B-9 and another name is folate.
It helps in lowering the risk of infections and there ‘s an abundance of magnesium which is an anti inflammatory.
Nutrition value:
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B-6
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin B-9 ( Folate)
- Vitamin K from tomatoes and celery
Blend it and sieve it to separate seeds and pulp.
Add a good squeeze of lime/lemon (optional) and a teaspoon of honey. Pepper is also optional.
You would love it.
This is such a simple and yet a healthy drink to guard your health from virus.
4. Beet and Yoghurt
Have you ever tried beets with yoghurt? It tastes yum and excellent health drink.
Beets are low in calories, and a rich source of nutrients – folate, potassium, vitamin C and much more.
It also lowers blood pressure.
Blend beets and yoghurt into a smooth texture. Add a teaspoon of honey.
Mix it well.
This is a perfect smoothie for anytime during the day.
Adding ice is also optional.
Nutritive value:
- 326 calories
- 2g of saturated fat
- 4g of unsaturated fat
- 7mg of Cholesterol
- 228mg of sodium
- 14g of protein
- 59g of carbohydrates
(Optional: almond milk )
5. Lemon / Lime, Mint, Soda
This is yet another refreshing healthy drink that you may have never tried before.
Squeeze lemon juice into a glass. Add a pinch of sugar, salt and few freshly chopped mint leaves. Mix it really well. Pop some fresh soda preferably white and non-carbonated. Soon as you add to the juice it makes a sizzling effect. As you see the tiny bubbles form, it is time to consume.
You’ll enjoy this drink and it is an excellent thirst quencher.
Nutritive value:
Contains 80 calories and 20g of carbs
6. Honey and Lemon
This is the most popular drink that certainly can become one of your favorite drink. Squeeze lime juice and drizzle a scoop of honey generously. Give a perfect stir and add adequate water. Mix thoroughly.
Your drink is ready.
(Adding sugar is optional as honey contains sugar already)
It soothes your throat and prevents cough.
7. Yoghurt
Have you made a drink with yoghurt. In malls it is available as buttermilk. But at home you can make it as a healthy homemade drinks for summer.
Give a good stir to yoghurt. Add a pinch of salt, cumin, sugar, (optional)a pinch of pepper, a good squeeze of lemon juice.
Mix it well.
Make it fresh as afternoon or evening drink.
8. Ginger, cloves, cinnamon, pepper corn Tea
Heard of the spice tea? Adding a dash of spice to the black tea, not only adds to your health, but it takes of your appetite and digestion as well.
Each of the spice has a specific nutrient value that improves your immunity. It is recommended that you consume the spice tea at least once or twice in a day.
First, coarsely crush a piece of ginger, 2 or 3 cloves, a small piece of cinnamon, 3-4 pepper corns. Add the spice mix to the boiling water and add 2 tsp of black tea powder.
Once it releases the aroma, strain and add little milk and sugar. Mix it well and serve.
This is an excellent drink during all seasons.
9. Fresh Coconut Milk
The rich and creamy freshly made or the canned coconut milk offers plenty of health benefits. If the milk has 50% of water, it doubles its nutrient value.
To make fresh coconut milk at home, scrape coconut and gradually add water to squeeze fresh milk.
Discard the extract.
Add a pinch of sugar or a teaspoon of honey. Mix it well.
It has 93% of calories and good source of vitamins and minerals.
One cup of (240 grams) has:
- 552 calories
- 57 grams of fat
- 5 grams of protein
- 13 grams of Carbs
- 5 grams of Fiber
- 11% of the RDI Vitamin C
- Folate 10% of the RDI
- Iron 22% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 22% of the RDI
- Potassium: 18% of the RDI
- Copper: 32% of the RDI
- Manganese: 110% of the RDI
- Selenium: 21% of the RDI
It is much ideal to make it fresh. Avoid refrigeration.
10. Date syrup
Date syrup stays high in protein along side of honey. As a refined sweetener, it has also a very high nutritional value. As a rich source of iron, it is so rich in calcium, potassium, manganese and perfectly does the job as an antioxidant.
Add a spoonful of date syrup to milk or mix it with plain water.
Consume once or twice a day.
Conclusion
The quick homemade drinks are full of flavor and healthy drinks suit and set your health every day. They are not only easy, but also a great source for immunity boost.