Stay well hydrated with these flavorful thirst busters.

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RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—Water may be the slimmest summer thirst slaker there is, but it’s far from the only—the healthiest—choice. In between glasses from the tap, try one of these seven healthful (and fun!) summer beverage standouts.

1. Best Summer Thirst Slaker: Fresh Mint Cooler
This completely refreshing—and completely calorie-free (read: no sugar!)—beverage is best enjoyed right about now, when the mint is fresh. To make it: Place several sprigs fresh mint in a heat-safe container, and pour 4 cups boiling water on top. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours. Remove mint before serving, then garnish with a fresh mint leaf. 0 calories, 0 grams carbohydrates, 100% minty fresh

2. Best Summer Smoothie: The Metabolism Charger
You and your family will love this pick-me-up when the summer days are at their laziest. The kid-friendly smoothie relies on protein-packed yogurt and green tea, which contains antioxidants called catechins that are known to boost metabolism. Blend together ½ cup brewed green tea, cooled to room temperature; ½ cup nonfat vanilla yogurt; 1 cup mango pieces; ½ tablespoon honey, and 1 cup ice (about 6 cubes). 260 calories, 0 g fat, 61 g carbohydrates

3. Best Summer Cocktail: Cosmopolitan
Premade margarita mix is essentially high-fructose corn syrupHigh-Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is an artificial sweetener that masquerades as sugar and is twice as sinister as the sucrose it impersonates. Bearing primary responsibility for the collective weight gain in our society, HFCS hypnotizes eaters into thinking they're always hungry. About 30 years ago, food manufacturers figured out that they could make sodas, cereals, yogurts, and some 40,000 other manufactured foods taste sweeter—for a lot less money than with simple sugar. They did it by developing HFCS (which is derived from corn). Sounds fine in theory, but here's the problem: When you eat any type of carbohydrate (like bread or fruit), your body releases insulin to regulate your body weight, pushing those carb calories into your muscles to be used as energy or storing them for later. Then it suppresses your appetite. Those carbs are the signal for you to stop filling your tank. But High-Fructose Corn Syrup doesn't stimulate insulin, so your body doesn't register it the way it registers simple white sugar. (That's why you can drink a few Big Gulps and never really feel full.) So what are you left with? You eat the HFCS-containing foods that are high in calories, but, those foods leave you wanting more. So you eat more foods with HFCS, stockpiling those calories like they're savings bonds, and the cycle of eating—and storing fat—continues. with a splash of artificial lime flavoring; you call that a cocktail? Plus, you’ll be ingesting a 500-calorie-a-glass threat to your beach body during the height of swimsuit season. Instead, switch to a cranberry-based Cosmopolitan (150 calories a glass) for dramatic caloric savings and just as much taste: 1 ounce vodka, ½ ounce triple sec, ½ ounce lime juice, ½ ounce cranberry juice.