Drink to your health

Muscle & Fitness/Hers, March, 2004 by Alexa K. Apallas

MOST OF US FOCUS ON TRYING TO EAT healthy foods, but we often neglect the nutritional value of our drinks. It's worth paying attention to, though: Lots of companies are coming out with new, healthier takes on your old favorites.

Consider Rocamojo, a coffee alternative made from roasted organic soybeans. The distinctive aroma and strong nutty taste are a bit unusual, but the drink provides a surprising 13 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber and other important nutrients. * Like most teas, Hampstead's have the benefits that researchers now say may help prevent heart disease and cancer, but the company has gone one better by growing tea with the environment in mind. Hampstead uses biodynamic agriculture methods, which help sustain and regenerate farmlands. Call it tea with a conscience--and good taste, especially the ginger green tea blend. * Honest Tea, an organic line of iced teas, has both an ecological and nutritional bent. While many bottled varieties are packed with sugar (and an accompanying cloying flavor), Honest Tea offers some unsweetened varieties. Those that do contain sugar have just a hint of sweetness--an 8-ounce serving has just 5 grams to 9 grams of sugar, depending on the flavor. Most bottled teas, on the other hand, contain a whopping 23 grams. Our favorite: Lori's Lemon Tea.

--A.K.A.