Most people, nowadays, are concerned about their unhealthy habit of excessive sugar consumption.
It’s important to develop good healthy habits to feel your best and make the most of your life.
Eliminating all of those incidental, insignificant sources of calorific beverages is one of the most challenging aspects of losing weight as you are habituated to these drinks.
If you’re on the hunt for low-sugar drinks, you’ve probably known by now the sweetness that most contemporary drinks contain.
Simple soda, for instance, is one of the worst offenders. A can of soda usually has 150-250 calories, which comprises mainly of sugar in the beverage.
These foods for diabetics could also help in case you need to keep your glucose levels down naturally throughout the day.
But do not worry! You’re in the correct place now, as this article will guide you through some drinks that are incredibly low in sugar.
Best Low Sugar Drinks
Let’s have a look at some of the best low-sugar drinks that we have listed below which will help you live a healthy lifestyle:
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Lemon Water
Okay, so some of you might not enjoy the denser sensation that accompanies a sweetened lemonade soda beverage.
No problem with that! You could make some fresh lemon water instead. Lemon water is one of the low-sugar drinks that is very beneficial for your health.
It helps to digest the food better, aids[1] in weight loss, provides the required potassium to your body and nourishes your body with vitamin C.
Lemon water consists primarily of lemon juice and water. It’s a good approach to improving the flavor of water while keeping it extremely low in sugar.
However, always make sure to add high-quality lemons to your drink.
If you frequently have sugar cravings and hunger pangs, lemon water could also help to squelch[2] those urges.
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Green Tea
Being high in natural antioxidants and polyphenols, green tea could shield cells from carcinogens and pollutants.
Green tea is one of the healthiest low-sugar beverages which may also delay the aging process, as per this study[3].
The chance of developing tooth decay and osteoporosis could be minimized as green tea includes fluoride, which helps to improve teeth, and flavonoids, which aids[4] in building bones.
Research[5] suggests that by lowering the chance of the formation of clotting blood and relaxing the arteries of blood, green tea might help in preventing heart disorders like strokes and heart attacks.
Poorly controlled diabetes is a big threat to eye issues, nerve damage (neuropathy), amputations, and heart disease.
However, green tea, when consumed by type 2 diabetes patients, might help to lower insulin resistance as well, as per the study[6].
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Black Coffee
Black coffee is another low-sugar beverage that helps to lower the chance of developing heart illnesses, organ damage, and diabetes.
The research[7] concluded that black coffee could increase dopamine levels in bodies, thus preventing Parkinson’s disease to a great extent as well.
Your mind and body both stay younger by regularly drinking black coffee. While preparing it, one must add as little sugar as possible.
Caffeine in black coffee increases the body’s metabolic rate by 4-10%. A higher metabolic rate makes you burn more fat[8], thus aiding in weight loss.
Black coffee is a primary vitamin B2 and is rich in antioxidants.
It was shown that persons who regularly drank 2 or more cups of black coffee had a lower chance[9] of developing heart disease and cancer.
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Almond Milk
Almond milk is low in carbs, making it a great low-sugar beverage choice[10] for those monitoring their sugar levels and following a low carbohydrate diet.
Try to pick the purest form of almond milk from the market, or you could also prepare one in your home.
There are many highly sweetened almond milk available on the market that you should avoid.
You should opt for almond milk with almost zero sugar and less than 3.45 grams of carbohydrates per cup.
Almond milk is heavy in protein and fat and is rich in the antioxidant vitamin E. It also contains a good amount of phosphorus as well.
Almond milk supports weight management, supplies the body with adequate calcium, and is best[11] for the heart.
Having said all that, you also might want to make yourself aware of almond milk side effects as well.
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Herbal Tea
Herbal teas are a wonderful low-sugar beverage choice throughout the year as they can be consumed either chilled or hot.
They are also much healthier than most artificially sweetened beverages.
Including caffeine and minimal sugar, herbal teas provide several health advantages over unhealthy carbonated beverages. The calories in them are also very low.
You can try rooibos herbal tea if you’re seeking a low-calorie zero caffeine herbal tea.
Rooibos, a naturally occurring caffeine-free herb, is a fantastic option[12] for those seeking a calorie-efficient herbal tea. Also, teas made from rooibos herb taste really good.
Herbal teas are home to several vitamins and rich antioxidants. It is easy to fight back infections[13] and diseases with the help of herbal tea like chamomile tea.
Many herbal teas are great options for people who struggle to lower their risk[14] of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Licorice and elderberry herbal tea are quite popular among people as they may lower the risk of various chronic diseases, protect against stress from oxidation, and are immunity boosters.
The same is the case with ginger root tea as well. This is because it contains most of the benefits of ginger as well.
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Cucumber Water
Cucumber water helps[15] drastically reduce the calories present in your diet if you attempt to lose weight by cutting out sugary sports drinks, juices, and sodas.
It keeps your body hydrated, aids in regular bowel movements, is excellent for weight loss, maintains healthy skin, might help clear up acne, and might help in preventing cancer.
A big glass of low-sugary cucumber water should be the first thing in your everyday morning routine.
Cucumber water also contains minerals like magnesium and potassium, which helps your body to maintain stable blood pressure.
The vitamin B-5, also known as pantothenic acid, used to treat[16] acne, is abundant in cucumbers.
One cup of cucumber juice contains[17] around five percent of the required daily quantities of vitamin B-5. Cucumber water makes your skin feel hydrated and soothed from the inside out.
Your body can keep a clear complexion by being able to rid itself of impurities if cucumber water is a part of your diet.
There are other benefits of cucumber that makes it a wise food choice.
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Vegetable Juice
Vegetable juice does not have any unhealthy ingredients like sugar or fat because of all the beneficial nutrients[18] they possess.
Vegetable juice nevertheless makes you feel fuller and provides you with plenty of energy. It serves as a great natural way to receive abundant vitamins.
Most vegetables are rich in numerous vitamins, such as A, E, B, C, etc.
Vegetables are critical for the body’s cell renewal, maintaining an optimum energy level, and the immune system’s overall health.
You give your body a significant boost if you select an organic, fresh vegetable juice that is pressed slowly.
Iron, zinc, and iodine are some nutrients found in vegetable juices that could fire up your metabolism, look after your vital organs, and overall health[19].
The best part is obtaining these juices naturally without using extraneous substances.
Fresh vegetable juice can be a great alternative to some meals, beverages, and snacks, which might aid you with weight loss.
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Sparkling Water
Sparkling water can be of enormous assistance in weight loss. It is often associated with reduced calorie intake[20].
If you can drink it before meals, it could even help you reduce your hunger and burn more calories.
Sparkling water consumption leads to good health because sparkling water inherently contains significantly less sugar, unlike other beverages, which are filled with sugar and calories.
When sparkling water is substituted with sugary drinks, the advantages are always considerably more significant.
People who drink sparkling water consume 10 percent fewer calories than the average person. Generally speaking, an average person acquires 1.4 kg every four to five years.
Therefore, drinking sparkling water is a simple technique to reduce sugar and calorie intake so that long-term health problems can be avoided.
Conclusion
Reducing sugar intake is an excellent method for weight loss because a teaspoon of sugar has almost 15 calories.
Diabetes could also be one of the reasons for sudden weight loss causes. So to ensure you do not fall into that category, you can start taking help from some of the above-mentioned low-sugar drinks.
The risk of developing severe illnesses like liver disease, heart disease, dental problems, and diabetes is also significantly reduced.
Therefore, it’s no secret that eliminating or at least cutting back on sugar from your diet has several positive health effects.
You may experience a sound sleep and feel more energetic if you follow a sugar-free or low-sugar diet. Even your skin ought to appreciate your decision to reduce sugar intake.
Overall, drinks with minimal sugar are always healthier than those with plenty of sugar. So, keeping an eye on your consumption of artificial sweeteners is advisable.
It’s always preferable to consume healthy beverages with natural sweeteners.
Finally, we hope you got an insight into various healthy drinks containing less sugar from this article and choose the option that suits you the best.
References/Sources
Working4Health prefers using primary and verified references. We have strict sourcing guidelines and our primary references include peer-reviewed research, academic, and medical institution studies.
- Mi Joung Kim, Jung Hyun Hwang, Hyun Ji Ko, et al. Lemon detox diet reduced body fat, insulin resistance, and serum hs-CRP level without hematological changes in overweight Korean women Nutr Res. 2015 May;35(5):409-20. doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2015.04.001. Epub 2015 Apr 10. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25912765/
- Yoshiko Fukuchi, Masanori Hiramitsu, Miki Okada, et al. Lemon Polyphenols Suppress Diet-induced Obesity by Up-Regulation of mRNA Levels of the Enzymes Involved in β-Oxidation in Mouse White Adipose Tissue J Clin Biochem Nutr. 2008 Nov; 43(3): 201–209.Published online 2008 Oct 31. doi: 10.3164/jcbn.2008066
- Kathryn Rutter, David R. Sell, Nalani Fraser, et al. Green Tea Extract Suppresses the Age-Related Increase in Collagen Crosslinking and Fluorescent Products in C57BL/6 Mice Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2003 Nov; 73(6): 453–460.doi: 10.1024/0300-9831.73.6.453
- Chwan-Li Shen, James K. Yeh, Jay Cao, et al. Green Tea and Bone metabolism Nutr Res. 2009 Jul; 29(7): 437–456.
doi: 10.1016/j.nutres.2009.06.008 - Pon Velayutham, Anandh Babu, and Dongmin Liu Green Tea Catechins and Cardiovascular Health: An Update Curr Med Chem. 2008; 15(18): 1840–1850.doi: 10.2174/092986708785132979
- Jae-Hyung Park, Jae-Hoon Bae, Sung-Soon Im, et al. Green tea and type 2 diabetes Integr Med Res. 2014 Mar; 3(1): 4–10.
Published online 2013 Dec 14. doi: 10.1016/j.imr.2013.12.002 - Chien Tai Hong, Lung Chan, and Chyi-Huey Bai The Effect of Caffeine on the Risk and Progression of Parkinson’s Disease: A Meta-Analysis Nutrients. 2020 Jun; 12(6): 1860.Published online 2020 Jun 22. doi: 10.3390/nu12061860
- Reza Tabrizi, Parvane Saneei, Kamran B Lankarani, et al. The effects of caffeine intake on weight loss: a systematic review and dos-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2019;59(16):2688-2696. doi: 10.1080/10408398.2018.1507996. Epub 2018 Oct 18. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30335479/
- Coffee Available from: https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/food-features/coffee/
- Sai Kranthi Vanga and Vijaya Raghavan How well do plant based alternatives fare nutritionally compared to cow’s milk? J Food Sci Technol. 2018 Jan; 55(1): 10–20.Published online 2017 Nov 2. doi: 10.1007/s13197-017-2915-y
- Soumik Kalita, Shweta Khandelwal, Jagmeet Madan, et al. Almonds and Cardiovascular Health: A Review Nutrients. 2018 Apr; 10(4): 468.Published online 2018 Apr 11. doi: 10.3390/nu10040468
- Hannelise Piek, Irma Venter, Fanie Rautenbach, et al. Rooibos herbal tea: An optimal cup and its consumers Health SA. 2019; 24: 1090.Published online 2019 Feb 21. doi: 10.4102/hsag.v24i0.1090
- Janmejai K Srivastava, Eswar Shankar, and Sanjay Gupta Chamomile: A herbal medicine of the past with bright future Mol Med Report. 2010 Nov 1; 3(6): 895–901.doi: 10.3892/mmr.2010.377
- Jin-Ming Meng, Shi-Yu Cao, Xin-Lin Wei, et al. Effects and Mechanisms of Tea for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes Mellitus and Diabetic Complications: An Updated Review Antioxidants (Basel). 2019 Jun; 8(6): 170. Published online 2019 Jun 10. doi: 10.3390/antiox8060170
- Pulok K Mukherjee, Neelesh K Nema, Niladri Maity, et al. Phytochemical and therapeutic potential of cucumber Fitoterapia. 2013 Jan;84:227-36. doi: 10.1016/j.fitote.2012.10.003. Epub 2012 Oct 23. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23098877/
- Michael Yang, Betsy Moclair, Virgil Hatcher, et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study of a Novel Pantothenic Acid-Based Dietary Supplement in Subjects with Mild to Moderate Facial Acne Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2014 Jun; 4(1): 93–101.Published online 2014 May 16. doi: 10.1007/s13555-014-0052-3
- Cucumber, with peel, raw FDC Published:4/1/2019 Available from: https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/168409/nutrients
- Susanne M. Henning, Jieping Yang, Paul Shao, et al. Health benefit of vegetable/fruit juice-based diet: Role of microbiome Sci Rep. 2017; 7: 2167.Published online 2017 May 19. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-02200-6
- Jie Zheng, Yue Zhou, Sha Li, et al. Effects and Mechanisms of Fruit and Vegetable Juices on Cardiovascular Diseases Int J Mol Sci. 2017 Mar; 18(3): 555.Published online 2017 Mar 4. doi: 10.3390/ijms18030555
- Water and Healthier Drinks Page last reviewed: June 6, 2022 Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/healthy_eating/water-and-healthier-drinks.html
- About the Author
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Alisha Matthew has been a practicing nutritionist since 2016. She holds a master’s degree in nutrition from the University of IOWA. She is a staunch believer in improving the human health index by educating people about nutrition and the importance of nutrition in leading a healthy and happy life. Her long-term goal is to keep educating people on general health and keep herself updated with the latest trends in the field of health.