News Taffy

If you are like me, you want something to drink that not only tastes good but is good for you and low in calories. That is a pretty tall order, as everything is loaded with sugar or artificial flavors. I gave up sodas years ago and I confess, I am not fond of plain water, though I do drink it. I have struggled to find something to drink, especially in the winter when I would like something hot to warm me. Growing up, I did not develop a taste for tea or coffee but that is slowly changing. Very slowly but baby steps can be huge sometimes.

A few years ago, I discovered that hot tea can be pretty satisfying, you just have to find the right one. Since then I have enjoyed the occasional cup of hot tea. My favorite is Teavana Scarlet Jasmine, a blend of green tea, herbs and fruits. Kroger’s Private Selection Herbal Tea in Forest Fruit is also good. This summer, I finally found an iced tea to my liking - Goldpeak unsweetened tea. I do add about 1/4 cup lemonade to a 16 oz. glass of iced tea to disguise the bitterness. Baby steps.

The reason I share all this is because tea can provide many health benefits. Thanks to the flavonoids and antioxidants found in tea, it can significantly lower your risk for stroke, some cancers and heart disease. Tea drinkers have lower cholesterol and a lower risk of age related memory problems including Alzheimer’s. Tea is thought to increase bone density.

The best teas to drink are black tea, green tea, white tea or oolong tea which are all real teas from the same plant; they are just processed differently resulting in distinctive tastes. Herbal teas are made from herbs, fruits, seeds or roots and have lower concentrations of antioxidants than the other teas. Steer clear of instant tea or bottled tea as they may contain very little actual tea or unhealthy amounts of sugar. The worst problem with tea is that it can stain your teeth. Try brushing or at least rinsing your mouth soon after consuming tea.

Perhaps coffee is more your style. Coffee beverages are everyone’s go to drink these days while sodas are falling out of popularity. As you may know, coffee, even decaffeinated, provides some excellent health benefits. Coffee contains plenty of antioxidants and minerals which protect against Type II diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, liver disease, heart failure, liver cancer, dementia and strokes. Coffee may fight depression too.

Coffee and tea are low in calories until you start adding sugar, cream and other flavorings - coffee has about 7 calories for 6 ounces while tea has 0 calories. Be very, very careful about ordering from your favorite coffee shop. A salted caramel mocha at Starbucks will set you back 510 calories with more than 79 grams of sugar in a 20 ounce cup!!! Keep in mind that you should only consume 25 to 37 grams or 6 to 9 teaspoons of sugar a day according to the American Heart Association. Tea has less caffeine than coffee if caffeine is a problem for you.

So drink up and enjoy a cup of coffee or glass of tea, just watch those calorie laden extras.