Drink to your health

Take care of your body. It’s the only place you have to live in.

This mantra has been haunting me a bit. Health in the Kelly home has been rather dodgy of late. Eve has had enough. Besides more sleep and exercise, I’m instituting some minor diet changes. Henceforth, the Kelly fridge is going to be stocked with some healthy drinks.

My alliance with green juices has morphed over the years. I used to be a Bolthouse Farms Daily Greens fan. It went down smooth and sweet with an influx of fruits and veggies. ($2.99 for 15.2 ounces at Sprouts.) But the words of my friend Bernice kept singing in my head, “If it doesn’t hurt, it’s not healthy.” Well, she might be overstating that, but I moved my allegiance on to Evolution Fresh Sweet Greens and Savory Greens. ($5.49 for 15.2 ounces of the cold-pressed brew at Sprouts.) Slugging down every last piece of liquid kale sure does feel healthy, but selling the Kelly kids on it? Not a chance.

Lately, I have been changing up my brew with Mamma Chia Blackberry Blast Clean Energy Beverage. Love the blackberry; it gives me an extra boost come the late afternoon hours, and the chia has a bit of chew to it, with natural caffeine and omega-3’s. And who doesn’t love the inspirational “Live, Laugh, Love” graphic on the inside of the lid? (Sprouts, $3.29 for 10 ounces.) Problem is, Mama Kelly can handle the chia chew, but it’s a bridge too far for the rest of the clan here.

I started asking around. “In order to rehydrate after working out,” said Bernice, “I go for a coconut water as opposed to Gatorade, because Gatorade has corn syrup in it. Coconut water is very hydrating and it has natural sugars. The best deal is the Sprouts brand. ($1.49 for 11.8 ounces.) My favorite coconut water is Zico, but it’s expensive.” (Zico Organic Coconut Water, $3.99 at Sprouts.)

“Health-Ade Pink Lady is my go-to beverage,” replied Maureen. “Their cranberry flavor kombucha is overpoweringly cranberry, but The Pink Lady tastes like a Martinelli’s apple cider, just lighter, with a crisp apple flavor.” ($3.99 for 16 ounces at Sprouts.)

“Kombucha and Kevita, which is a type of water kefir, are both great drinks,” answered Kelly. “Water kefir is high in probiotics, whereas kombucha is lower in probiotics, high in B vitamins, and great for detoxifying. GTS Kombucha is a very good brand. There are lots of flavors, though the Trilogy flavor — which is lemon, raspberry, and ginger — is my favorite. Grocery Outlet Markets often carry Kevita.” ($2.77 for Kevita Master Brew Kombucha at Grocery Outlet, and $2.79 for Kevita Sparkling Probiotic Drink.)

“I make my beverages at home,” offered Katie. “Kombucha and water kefir are favorites here and I can make both for a fraction of what it costs to purchase in the store. I make a gallon of kombucha for about $.50, whereas to purchase one 16-ounce jar at the store runs about $3. I use gallon-size glass jars for fermenting the kombucha. They can be purchased on Amazon for about $10-$11 each. For the swing-top storage and serving bottles, I purchase Trader Joe’s Triple Ginger Brew.”

Madeline is another home brewer. “I mostly drink my own, about one a day at least. Your own brew is nice because you can control how fizzy, plus how much and what kind of juice to add for fizz and flavoring. For store-bought, a less well known brand that I like is Brew Dr. Kombucha.” ($2.99 for 14 ounces at Trader Joe’s.)

“My two picks,” tossed in Lorraine, “are Arbonne, which has an energy fizz drink called Energy Fizz Sticks. I also enjoy Skinny Fit, a local company, which has a detox tea blend that is energizing.” (Skinny Detox Tea, $69.95 for 28 servings at skinnyfit.com.)

“The Arbonne Fizzies are a flavorful, wonderful, pour in your water bottle, shake and re-energize treat, without the guilt,” explained consultant Marty Franklin. “They contain Vitamin B, a little green tea, and natural flavors like citrus, Pomegranate, and now Blackberry, which is my favorite.” ($55 for a box of 30 stick packets at www.marthafranklin.arbonne.com.)