Smart Starts For A Healthy Heart: Improve Hydration, Skip Added Sugars With Better-For-You Beverages

If you already enjoy the routine of breakfast to start the day, consider swapping sugary drinks for beverages without Added Sugars like Unsweetened Green or Black Tea. When incorporated as part of an Overall Healthy Diet, Unsweetened Tea can help support Heart Health.

If you need help getting started, Lipton, a proud National Sponsor of the American Heart Association’s Life is Why Campaign, created these easy-to-make, Better-For-You Tea Recipes.

A small handful of ingredients makes a big splash in Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies, ideal for an on-the-go breakfast. For a little refreshment any time of day, simple Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers offer a solution with 0 grams of Added Sugars while Non-Alcoholic Green Tea Mojito Mocktails provide Natural sweetness with 100% Fruit Juice.

Choosing beverages with no Added Sugars can contribute to a Healthy Heart, according to the American Heart Association, making these recipes perfect for daily habit stacking. Water is needed to keep your body running at its best, and because Unsweetened Tea is 99.5% Water, it provides a delicious way to help hydrate.

Sparkling Green Tea Cranberry Spritzers
Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)

• 4 Cups of Water
• 4 Single-Serving Green Tea Bags
• 1 Cup of 100% Cranberry Juice or 100% Cranberry-Pomegranate Juice
• 2 Cups of Ice Cubes
• 1/2 Cup of Seltzer (flavored or plain) or Low-Sodium Club Soda, chilled
• 4 Orange Slices or Lime Wedges (optional)

In a small saucepan over high heat, bring the Water to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat. Submerge the Tea Bags. Steep for 4 minutes. Discard the Tea Bags. Let the Tea Mixture and let it cool for 30 minutes. Pour it into a pitcher. Stir in the Cranberry Juice. Refrigerate it for 2 hours, or until it is chilled.

At serving time, put the Ice Cubes in four glasses. Pour the Tea Mixture into the glasses. Top each serving with the Seltzer. Garnish them with the Orange Slices.

Tip: To create Cranberry-Flavored Ice Cubes, fill the Ice Cube Tray with 100% Cranberry
Juice and freeze it.

Nutritional Information per serving: 32 Calories: 0 g of Total Fat, 0 g of Saturated Fat, Trans Fat, Polyunsaturated Fat and Monounsaturated Fat; 0 mg of Cholesterol; 4 mg of Sodium; 8 mg of Carbohydrates; 0 g of Fiber; 8 g of Total Sugars, 0 g of Added Sugars; 1 g of Protein.

Green Tea Berry Banana Smoothies
Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)

• 3 Cups of Water
• 8 Single-Serving Green Tea Bags
• 16 Ounces of Frozen Mixed Berries (about 3 cups)
• 2 Medium Bananas, peeled, cut in half and frozen
• 1 Cup of Fat-Free Plain Greek Yogurt
• 2 Teaspoons of Fresh-Grated peeled Gingerroot (optional)
• 2 Teaspoons of Vanilla Extract (optional)
• 2 Teaspoons of Chia or Flaxseeds (optional)

In a small saucepan over high heat, bring the Water to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat. Submerge the Tea Bags. Steep for 4 minutes. Discard the Tea Bags. Let the Tea Mixture cool for 30 minutes. Pour it into a pitcher. Refrigerate it for 2 hours, or until it is chilled.

In a Food Processor or a Blender, process the Tea, the Berries, the Bananas and the Yogurt until it is smooth. Add the Gingerroot and the Vanilla, if desired, and process it until it is smooth. Pour it into four glasses. Sprinkle it with the Chia Seeds, if desired.

Nutritional Information per serving without optional ingredients: 136 calories; 1 g of Total Fat, 0 g of Saturated Fat, Trans Fat, Polyunsaturated Fat and Monounsaturated Fat; 3 mg of Cholesterol; 23 mg of Sodium; 29 g of Carbohydrates; 5 g of Fiber; 18 g of Total Sugars, 0 g of Added Sugars; 8 g of Protein.

Green Tea Mojito Mocktails
Recipe courtesy of the American Heart Association
Servings: 4 (1 1/2 cups per serving)

• 4 Cups of Water
• 4 Single-Serving Single-Serving Green Tea Bags
• 32-40 Sprigs of Fresh Mint, plus additional for garnish, divided
• 2 Cups of Ice Cubes
• 1 Cup of 100% White Grape Juice
• 1/2 Cup of Fresh Lime Juice, about 4 Medium Limes
• 1 Medium Lime, cut into four wedges or Lime Zest twists (optional)

In a small saucepan over high heat, bring the Water to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat. Submerge the Tea Bags. Steep for 4 minutes. Discard the Tea Bags. Let the Tea Mixture cool for 30 minutes. Pour it into the pitcher. Refrigerate it for 2 hours, or until it is chilled.

At serving time, add the Mint Leaves to the four glasses. Using a Muddler or a Wooden Spoon, mash the Mint Leaves several times to release the Juices. Don’t mash into pulp and add the Ice.

Stir the White Grape Juice and the Lime Juice into a Tea Mixture. Pour it into the glasses. Garnish each one with the Lime Wedges and the Mint Leaves.

Tip: To get more juice from Citrus, before slicing, microwave the Fruit on high for 30 seconds, or until it is warm. When it is cool enough to handle, use the Citrus Reamer or a Handheld Juice Press to Juice the Citrus.

Nutritional Information per serving: 45 calories; 0 g of Total Fat, 0 g of Saturated Fat, Trans Fat, Polyunsaturated Fat and Monounsaturated Fat; 0 mg of
Cholesterol; 7 mg of Sodium; 13 g of Carbohydrates; 0 g of Fiber; 10 g of Total Sugars, 0 g of Added Sugars; 1 g of Protein.

Discover more ways to improve daily routines at: www.Heart.org/eatsmart