Summertime means we’re reaching for something cold and refreshing more often to keep us hydrated. If that means grabbing a sports drink, soda, or juice loaded with sugar, it may be bad for your oral and overall health.

Sipping sugary drinks can lead to tooth decay, in addition to the other impacts to your health like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. They also don’t keep us as hydrated as we need to be in the heat.

Try these two recipes for easy summer drinks that keep the flavor without the added sugar:

Cucumber-mint infused water

Add some flash to your water pitcher by splashing in some cucumber and mint. Cucumbers have impressive health benefits, such as blood pressure regulation, and can kill bacteria that causes bad breath. The popular herb mint helps with digestion and inflammation associated with headaches and migraines. 

Ingredients:

• 1/3-cup fresh mint leaves
• 1 cucumber
• 2 quarts of cold water 

Directions:

1. Wash and carefully peel the skin from the cucumber.
2. Slice it into thin circles.
3. Put the mint leaves in the pitcher. Use a wooden spoon to gently mash and stir to help release flavor. 
4. Add the cucumber slices and water.
5. Stir and chill in refrigerator until cold.  You can strain the water or pour it into glasses and serve as is.  

Sugar-free frozen strawberry lemonade

Strawberries are known to improve brain function and have a naturally sweet taste. This recipe combines those benefits with monk fruit sweetener, which has no calories and the approval of the Food and Drug Administration as a safe sugar alternative. 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup lemon juice
• 3 cups fresh strawberries (you can use frozen strawberries with no sugar added)
• 2 cups cold water
• Granulated monk fruit sweetener to taste (Stevia is another option)

Directions:

1. Wash and cut the tops from the strawberries. Place in blender.
2. Add liquid ingredients to blender and blend.
3. Add monk fruit sweetener to taste.
4. Chill and serve.