Healthy Beverage Suggestions

**Svengali** · 09-12-2009, 19:56

Right now I drink way too much milk and cola.

I probably have 3-4 cokes a day and almost a 1/2 gallon of milk daily.

I'm looking to find a palatable substitute for cola, so I can have maybe one a day. I can't drink diet colas, they taste like crap. I can't drink wine for the same reason. I also don't drink beer.

I'd like to cut way down on my milk consumption as well. Too much is not good for me, please don't suggest skim as I can't do it. I do drink 2% and not whole milk. Tried 1% and it didn't take, tastes like milky water.

I just can't bring myself to drink plain water, especially with meals.

Basically I'm really picky and like things that taste good, which is why I drink too much milk and cola in the first place.

Anyhow, I'm hoping some of you guys might be able to provide suggestions I may not have considered.

Thanks.

**jwinch2** · 09-12-2009, 20:06

Try tea. Plenty of anti-oxidants and just all around good for you. You can also try fruit juices of various kind. If you take just a moment to add some lemon or lime juice in your water that can help provide some flavor to help you enjoy your water a bit.

I'm with you on the milk thing. I have been able to wean myself down to 1% but that is as low as I can go. I grew up on whole or 2% and just can't deal with skim. I drink a ton of water and also a good deal of milk. I try to drink tea but can't do it at night as I have some issues sleeping and don't need the caffeine making it harder.

**De_Franza** · 09-12-2009, 20:47

Have you tried Coke zero? best taste of a fake cola. though I'm a tad squeemish about chemical sweetners.

I was right there with ya a while ago, but if you can switch to water it's worth doing.

**Cliff Hargrave** · 09-12-2009, 21:05

If you force yourself to drink diet sodas, you will eventually start to like them. Diet Dr. Pepper is the best one

Have you tried the Crystal light packs that you mix in bottled water? They come in lots of flavors and are really good.

**TonyU** · 09-12-2009, 21:17

I just quit soda cold turkey. Every vice I quit I did cold turkey. It just works better for me. Like jwinch suggested I drink alot of teas, and juices.

**Nick L.** · 09-12-2009, 21:42

I have been making kool aid with splenda, diet coke with splenda (don't drink very often), tea and homemade lemonade with splenda, mix the two and you get Lebanese tea, highly recommended. Water mostly though.

You can replace your milk with a protein mix, takes a little getting use to but it is much better for you. Stevia is an even better sweetener, just to expensive right now, but all natural.

**Abbax8** · 09-13-2009, 08:31

Be careful of drinks sweetened with sorbitol, it is in many food products. There are clinical trials showing a link between sorbitol and diabetic neuropathy. My wife has neuropathy and noticed that her feet hurt much worse after using a mouth wash sweetened with sorbitol, the effect was near instant. I was unaware of this but heard a report on the radio about sorbitol and started checking are house for its presence. When I told her she informed me about the increase in her foot pain.

There are many articles on the internet about sorbitol and neuropathy, many linked to the trials.

I now return you to the original topic.

Peace

Dennis

**karateguy** · 09-13-2009, 22:08

what about water.. Its cheap, and good for you.. and if you train a lot, you will need to be properly hydrated..

**Rasputin** · 09-14-2009, 00:22

I like the SoBe Lifewaters sweetened with Stevia extract and Erythritol.

http://www.sobeworld.com/product.php?c=lifewater&pid=9

**David Craik** · 09-14-2009, 05:00

I used to drink a lot of sodas too, mainly Mt. Dew. On recruiting duty 4-5 20 oz bottles a day was not unusual for me. I now have about one can of soda a week or so. I replaced them with various teas and Gatorades/Powerades (about 1 or two small bottles a day when it's hot). I hate diet crap but try Crystal Light's Peach Tea powder, it's actually really good. In the morning I have black coffee, and mostly just spring water when I'm at work. I also like V8, lemonade, and juices.

Can't really think of much to replace milk which is affordable. I like my whole milk, but I only have a glass once in awhile. Perhaps you could cut down to just one glass in the morning?

**Svengali** · 09-14-2009, 13:50

Originally Posted by De_Franza

Have you tried Coke zero? best taste of a fake cola. though I'm a tad squeemish about chemical sweetners.

I was right there with ya a while ago, but if you can switch to water it's worth doing.

Tried a couple times, just can't do diet sodas. I have tried Coke zero.