Alison contacted me to write a guest post about some refreshing, sugar-free summer drink recipes. They sounded great, and a perfect follow up for my last post, Stay Hydrated Holistically. Thanks, Alison, for sharing with us, and I hope you all enjoy!
3 Sugar-Free Drinks to Beat a Hot Summer in the City
Post by: Alison Smith
You’re sitting in your backyard. The sun is beating down on you, and beads of sweat gather on your forehead. It’s another crazy, hot summer in the city, and you’re thirsty.
But what kind of tasty beverage can you make when you live completely sugar-free?
You can’t break-out the Kool-Aid or the Nestea. And, another glass of ice water just won’t cut it. You want something sweet, cooling, thirst-quenching and satisfying. You want your taste buds to be wowed!
Well…This sugar-free girl is here to share with you three sugar-free, classic, summer time, heat busting beverages.
Let’s get started!
Classic Lemonade
There is nothing better than drinking lemonade on a hot, summer day. Here’s how you indulge in this summer time classic without adding sugar.
Ingredients:
Juice from 1/2 of a lemon
16 oz of fresh, filtered water
3-4 ice cubes
15-20 drops of alcohol free vanilla liquid stevia (I like NuNaturals)
Instructions:
– Cut a lemon in half, and squeeze the juice out using a reamer or citrus juicer
– Discard the seeds
– Pour the lemon juice into a tall glass, and add 15-20 drops of vanilla liquid stevia
– Add 3-4 ice cubes
– Top the glass up with 16 oz of water and stir
– Serving size: one glass
Thirst Quenching Limeade
Just like lemonade, limeade is a total treat with a tart twist. Try it out for yourself — you’ll love it!
Ingredients:
Juice from 1/2 of a lime
16 oz of fresh, filtered water
3-4 ice cubes
15-20 drops of alcohol free vanilla liquid stevia (I like NuNaturals)
Instructions:
– Cut a lime in half, and squeeze the juice out using a reamer or citrus juicer
– Pour the lime juice into a tall glass, and add 15-20 drops of vanilla liquid stevia
– Add 3-4 ice cubes
– Top the glass up with 16 oz of water and stir
– Serving size: one glass
Cooling Peppermint Iced Tea
Peppermint is incredibly cooling and incredibly delicious. Peppermint tea is lovely served on ice with added fresh mint leaves.
Ingredients:
2 peppermint tea bags
16 oz of boiled water
3-4 ice cubes
Optional: 5-10 drops of alcohol free vanilla liquid stevia (I like NuNaturals)
Instructions:
– Steep two peppermint tea bags in 16 oz of boiled water for 10 minutes (this will create a peppermint tea concentrate)
– After steeping, cool the tea
– Into a tall glass, add 8 oz of the peppermint tea concentrate
– This tea is excellent without a sweetener; but if you need one, add 10-15 drops of vanilla liquid stevia
– Add 3-4 ice cubes
– Top the glass up with an additional 8 oz of water and stir
– Garnish: add 5 bruised mint leaves to the tea for added pepperminty oomph
Health Benefits:
Lemon: Lemons are filled with free-radical fighting antioxidants like flavanoids and vitamin C. Lemon juice is very detoxifying. One teaspoon of lemon juice in a glass of water helps the liver to eliminate unwanted toxins.
Lime: Just like lemons, limes contain a great deal of antioxidants like flavanoids and vitamin C. And, they help to cleanse the body of waste products.
Peppermint: Peppermint is a beautiful, aromatic herb that aids digestion and intestinal issues like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Peppermint has a soothing effect in the body. And, it has antibacterial, antiviral and anticancer properties.
Stevia: Stevia is a plant that you can easily grow in your garden. It is an excellent, natural sweetener that is 10-15 times sweeter than table sugar. Using stevia can give you the satisfying sweet taste that you crave, without the white sugar highs and lows. Stevia has antibacterial properties, and some studies show that it decreases blood pressure.
Buying Stevia:
I have a preference for NuNaturals alcohol free vanilla liquid stevia (VLS) because it gives a pleasant, sweet-craving satisfaction without a bitter after taste. I have also tried Sweetleaf vanilla liquid stevia, and it’s not too bad (it would be my second choice). I have tried a long list of stevia products: I find all white-powdered stevia products to be bitter. I was shocked when I tried NuNaturals VLS, and I’m so grateful for it.
I usually purchase NuNatural products online. If you are in the United States, you can purchase this brand at Vitacost.com. If you are in Canada, you can purchase this brand at LowCarbCanada.ca.
Alison Smith
Alison is a gluten-free, sugar-free wellness junkie on a mission to inspire women to take charge of their wellbeing, and to reclaim abundant health and happiness. Alison is the creator of alisonsmith.com, and she is the author of the FREE ebook Recharge Your Body: 52 Smoothie & Juice Recipes. Get your FREE copy at alisonsmith.com.
The Limeade, you should try blending a half lime, with Peel, it makes it an even better taste 🙂 Just consume it within a few hours, otherwise it gets very bitter
Awesome idea, thanks!