Energy drinks that are easy to make at home


Over the past month, we’ve referred to energy drinks, their composition, nutritional properties and possible side-effects for our health in case of excessive consumption.

In this article, we’re detailing healthier, also stimulating alternatives to those drinks so we can take on situations when we need more energy and vitality with something that is easy to make and delicious on the palate.

Tania Mesa – Director of the Neolife Nutrition and Nursing Unit

Estefanía Schoendorff – Neolife Nutrition and Nursing Unit


Stimulating, healthier drink recipes

These recipes are practical, simple and easy to make. Ideal to enjoy in our daily lives when we need a boost of energy. Delicious and refreshing at the same time for the hot months that are on their way.

Stimulating, healthy drinks

So here they are:

Beet drink:

Ingredients:

  • 100g beets.
  • 1 spoonful honey, agave or artificial sweetener.

Preparation:

  • Slice and liquify the beets, add the sugar to taste. You can add carrot to try a different flavor.

Ideal to start the day with energy.

Orange and lemon drink:

Ingredients:

  • 60ml orange juice (2-3 oranges).
  • 30ml lemon juice (1-2 lemons).
  • 900ml water.
  • Salt (preferably just a pinch)
  • 1 spoonful whole cane sugar, honey, agave or sweetener.

Preparation:

  • Squeeze 60ml juice out of the oranges.
  • Squeeze 30ml juice out of the lemons.
  • Mix all of the ingredients, sweeten to taste and leave in the fridge to cool.

Ideal during training as a refreshing drink or in the middle of the afternoon as a summer iced drink.

Pineapple and celery drink:

Ingredients:

  • 4 slices of natural pineapple.
  • 1 stick of celery.
  • 2 apples preferably unpeeled (for the fiber).
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice (can be replaced by mango).
  • 1 or 2 dates, according to taste.
  • 250ml water.

Preparation:

  • Squeeze an orange to get a spoonful of juice. Mix it with the rest of the ingredients.
  • Peel (except the apple), pre-wash and liquify all ingredients and slice them to make a uniform mix. If you want a sweeter drink, you can add a couple more dates. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

Ideal to take to work and enjoy a mid-morning or mid-afternoon energizing drink.

Orange drink with chia seeds:

Ingredients:

  • 500ml water.
  • 1 soup spoon chia seeds.
  • 1 soup spoon honey or agave.
  • Salt (preferably just a pinch)
  • 1 glass of orange juice (preferably freshly squeezed.

Preparation:

  • Rinse the chia seeds and pour in a bowl with the orange juice and honey until they soften and absorb the liquid (15 minutes approximately).
  • Drain to remove the remaining liquid and stir well before consuming. It should be like a gel due to the seeds (like a compote).

Ideally consumed at breakfast.

Banana and almond drink:

Ingredients:

  • 1 banana (preferably ripe, as it will be sweeter).
  • 20 grams of peeled almonds.
  • 2 leaves of kale or cabbage.
  • 1 cup of plain yogurt with no added sugar or 0% fat quark with no added sugar.
  • 1 spoonful chopped flax seeds.
  • 1 250ml cup of almond milk.

Preparation:

  • Whisk all ingredients to make a uniform texture.

Ideal for a high-intensity sports breakfast.

Ginger and turmeric drink:

Ingredients:

  • 1 slice of chopped fresh ginger.
  • 1 pinch of powdered turmeric (1/3 dessert spoon).
  • 1 pinch of ground cardamom (1/3 dessert spoon).
  • 250-500ml boiling water (500ml – doubling the quantity of spices).

Preparation:

  • Add the spices (ginger, turmeric and cardamom) to the boiling water for 30 minutes.
  • Stir, set aside for 15 minutes and filter. Sweeten to taste. Serve hot or cold.

Ideal as an afternoon drink, or to accompany a long night of work.

Cocolina coconut water drink:

Ingredients:

  • 500ml coconut water.
  • 1/2 teaspoon spirulina (can be found in pharmacies, herbalists and supplement stores).

Preparation:

  • Mix 1/2 teaspoon spirulina with coconut water.

Ideal as an isotonic drink, for replenishing electrolytes after intense exercise.

In conclusion, incorporating these foods into your diet at certain times of the day will provide you with the vitality to combat tiredness and recover energy. Not all foods have the same energy, nor the same amount of vitamins and minerals, but knowing when to take them is key to enhancing their benefits.

At Neolife we’re working toward healthy, nutritional education which is both personal and individual.