Beat the Heat with these 12 Fun Summer Drinks Perfect for Day and Night Refreshment! – One Green Planet

Nothing is better on a hot, summer day than a cool and refreshing beverage. The problem, however, is that so many beverages contain ingredients you would do better to avoid.

Many sodas, iced teas, fruit drinks, and juices contain tons of sugar, artificial colors and flavors, and even high amounts of sodium. Take a look at How to Kick that Soda Habit With Healthy Natural Alternatives for advice on cutting back. Diet drinks are no better when they contain artificial sweeteners and other dangerous ingredients. Even energy drinks and sports drinks contain questionable ingredients such as caffeine and high-fructose corn syrup. See “Healthy” Beverages Contain More Sugar Than You Think for more details. And before you order that specialty coffee, think about whether it contains sugars and syrups you could do without. Check out Are Flavored Coffeehouse Drinks the New Soda to read more about it.

So does that mean you can drink nothing but water? No way! There are ways to quench your summer thirst without the chemicals, sweeteners, or caffeine and get great-tasting drinks. Find out what all the buzz is about coconut water and learn How to Make Starbucks-Style Drinks – Healthier! Then try these 12 fun and refreshing beverages to cool off your summer days and nights.

1. Chaga Mushroom Tea (Chai and Vanilla)

Here’s a totally new spin on iced tea. This Chaga Mushroom Tea is filled with healing properties and you can make it in two flavors: chai and vanilla.

2. Healthy Piña Colada (Hallelujah!)

If you like Pina Coladas…and getting caught in the rain…then you totally need to make this Healthy Piña Colada. Say no to pre-made mixes and say yes to this much tastier drink.

3. Rooibos Tea and Homemade Ice-Cream Float

If you like ice cream drinks, you’ll love this Rooibos Tea and Homemade Ice Cream Float. The ice cream is made with aquafaba and persimmons and goes into a refreshing tea made fizzy with sparking water for a yummy drink that will knock your socks off!

4. Papaya Coladas

Extra thick, ice-cold and creamy, this papaya twist on pina colada is a refreshing, vitamin packed drink. Enjoy this Papaya Colada as a morning smoothie or pour in some rum for a tropical party cocktail.

5. Peach Ginger Sangria

This Peach Ginger Sangria is super simple and perfect for a humid outdoor cookout or a dreary rainy day pick-me-up. Light, crisp, and just a little bubbly, this is your new summer drink.

6. Watermelon Cherry Cooler

Stay cool with this Watermelon Cherry Cooler. The gorgeous color alone is enough to make you smile but the delicious flavor will have you grinning from ear to ear.

7. Tasty Turmeric Latte

You’ll love this drink a whole latte. This Tasty Turmeric Latte has crazy health benefits while also being really tasty. If you need a shot of caffeine to jumpstart your day, give this recipe a go. It’s like sunshine in a cup.

8. Ayurvedic Rose Smoothie

According to Ayurveda, it’s not a coincidence rose is associated with love and caring. It balances the sadhaka pitta that governs the emotions of the heart. This Ayurvedic Rose Smoothie has a combination of pumpkins seeds mixed with rose that brings out a soothing flavor that excites your taste buds!

9. Fizzy Coconut, Lime and Mint Kombucha Elixer

This fizzy, refreshing Coconut, Lime and Mint Elixir tastes amazing, looks beautiful, is hydrating, nourishing and full of healthy probiotics! Give it a try at home and impress friends with this pretty mocktail.

10. Hibiscus-Cherry Cooler

Hibiscus straight up is quite tangy – like on the lemon juice side of tangy – but the cherries, dates, and bananas tame the tart in this Hibiscus Cherry Cooler. The color is lovely for a beautiful summer drink.

11. Watermelon Rose Drink

The combination of cold watermelon, melon, and some rosé wine is so tempting and thirst-quenching. This Watermelon Rose Drink is perfect to drink while watching a sunset with company or for a mixer or party.

12. Healthy, Alcohol-Free Champagne

Everyone can enjoy some bubbly with this Healthy, Alcohol-Free Champagne. Not only it easier than making a cocktail, but it will help replenish minerals and electrolytes. Your body will love you for that. Cheers!

It’s important to stay hydrated during the summer. Do it with flavor, beautiful colors, and healthy ingredients. These drinks will keep you cool and refreshed all summer long.

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home

Reducing your meat intake and incorporating more plant-based foods into your diet is known to Support various health benefits, including reducing chronic inflammation, improving heart health, enhancing mental well-being, achieving fitness goals, meeting nutritional needs, managing allergies, and promoting gut health, among others. Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer,  prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend grabbing our favorite plant-based cookbooks and downloading the Food Monster App — with over 20,000 delicious recipes, it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals, and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

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