Living a healthy lifestyle involves more than just staying active and eating a balanced diet. You also have to watch what goes into your alcoholic beverages, sports drinks, punch, and smoothies since they may have hidden ingredients that could impact your health. Change your choices for the better by learning more about which ingredients to cut out and healthier options to include.

Hidden Ingredients

The two biggest factors that people underestimate with beverages are calories and sugars. Since they easily up, they can negate your healthy food choices. For example, a typical 20-ounce sports drink has 165 calories. If you drink one a day and don’t cut calories elsewhere, you can gain up to 5 pounds in a year. Energy drinks have even more sugar, calories, and caffeine since they’re designed to raise your energy in short periods. You also have to be careful with smoothies from fast-food restaurants since some 20-ounce drinks can contain almost or over 1,000 calories.

Spotting Sugars & Sweeteners

Sugar can go by many names, so look for these terms on ingredient lists: high-fructose corn syrup, fructose, fruit juice concentrates, syrup, corn syrup, sucrose, or dextrose. Natural, healthy beverages like fresh smoothies typically use honey as a sweetener, which has its own health benefits.

Healthier Options

The best way to switch to healthier options is to stock water instead of sugary beverages at home. When you eat out, head to a healthy restaurant that uses fresh ingredients for smoothies and fruit and veggie juices. Also, cut unnecessary calories by ordering eight-ounce drinks instead of 12, 16, or 20-ounce ones.

If you’re looking for delicious, local, and healthy smoothies, head to Heavenly Island Lifestyle in Honolulu, HI. Their head chef collaborates with local yoga instructors on healthful smoothie recipes and sources all ingredients from local farms throughout the Hawaiian Islands. Call (808) 923-1100 to make a reservation, or visit their website to learn more about their organic drink options. You can also check out their reviews and dishes on Yelp.