The 10 Best Antioxidant Drinks, Plus How They Benefit Your Health

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A quick look at the best antioxidant drinks

• Best green tea: Pure Leaf Unsweetened Green Tea
• Best matcha: Moontower Matcha Green Tea
• Best herbal tea: Waku Lemon Prebiotic Herbal Tea
• Best cold brew coffee: High Brew Cold Brew Coffee — Black & Bold
• Best beet juice: Beetology Organic Beet + Berry Juice
• Best pomegranate juice: POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice
• Best acai juice: V8 Acai Mixed Berry
• Best flavored water: Positive Beverage Prickly Pear Lemonade
• Best coconut water: ZICO Natural 100% Coconut Water
• Best green juice: ALLWELLO Organic Cold Pressed Juice

If you’ve been to a grocery or convenience store lately, you’ve probably seen bottles and cans of cold brew coffee, kombucha, iced tea, juice, and flavored water lining the shelves.

Some of them even have labels like “immunity boost” or “with antioxidant vitamin C” — but what does that actually mean?

What is an antioxidant drink?

Antioxidant drinks are any type of beverage made with one or more ingredients that are rich in antioxidants, such as fruits, vegetables, coffee, or tea.

Antioxidants are compounds that play a central role in health and disease.

They help by neutralizing harmful compounds known as free radicals. This can reduce oxidative damage to your cells and may help lessen inflammation and protect against chronic disease (1).

Switching up your diet is one of the most effective ways to increase your intake of antioxidants.

Still, while most people are familiar with antioxidant-rich foods like fruits and veggies, finding healthy antioxidant drinks can be a bit more challenging.

How we chose these drinks

This article reviews some of the best antioxidant drinks based on the following criteria:

• Antioxidant content: Each of the drinks included on our list contains ingredients rich in antioxidants, such as fruits, vegetables, tea, or coffee.
• Ingredients: We included drinks that are made using high quality ingredients and free of artificial additives and preservatives.
• Added sugar content: The drinks on our list are naturally sweetened and free of added sugar.
• Nutritional value: Each drink we selected provides a hearty dose of nutrients in each serving, including vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds.
• Vetting: The drinks on our list have been vetted to ensure that they align with Healthline’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. You can read more about our vetting process.

Here are 10 of the best antioxidant drinks, along with a few of the ways they can benefit your health.

Healthline’s picks for the best antioxidant drinks

Best bottled green tea

Pure Leaf Unsweetened Green Tea

Price: $

Derived from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, green tea is one of the most popular antioxidant drinks.

It’s particularly rich in a polyphenol called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a compound that has been extensively studied for its antioxidant effects (2).

Green tea also provides several other antioxidant compounds, including flavonols like myricetin, quercetin, and chlorogenic acid (3).

Pure Leaf Unsweetened Green Tea is made without any added colors, artificial sweeteners, or other questionable ingredients. It’s also brewed using fresh tea leaves rather than powders and concentrates, which can help maximize the taste and quality of your beverage.

Best bottled matcha

Moontower Matcha Green Tea

Price: $$

Matcha is a type of tea made from the leaves of the green tea plant. The leaves are ground into a fine powder, added to hot water, and whisked with a bamboo brush until a frothy texture is formed.

Unlike regular green tea, matcha is made using the entire leaf of the tea plant, resulting in a higher concentration of antioxidants (4).

In test-tube and animal studies, matcha extract has been shown to protect against liver damage and decrease cancer cell growth (5, 6, 7).

What’s more, a small study in 23 people found that consuming matcha improved memory, attention, and reaction time, compared with a placebo (8).

Moontower Matcha is made using ceremonial-grade matcha, a type of matcha with a more delicate, refreshing flavor and less of a bitter taste than culinary-grade matcha.

It also contains zero grams of sugar and is free of artificial ingredients and flavors to ensure that you’re getting the highest quality matcha available.

Best herbal tea

Waku Lemon Prebiotic Herbal Tea

Price: $$

This herbal tea features a blend of nutritious ingredients, including lemon verbena, lemon balm, mint, and chamomile.

Many of these ingredients are rich in antioxidants. Lemon balm, for example, contains beneficial compounds like rosmarinic acid, gallic acid, and flavonoids (9).

Similarly, chamomile is a great source of antioxidants, including caffeic acid, apigenin, chlorogenic acid, and luteolin (10, 11).

Adding this nutritious drink to your daily diet can be a convenient way to boost your intake of these key antioxidants.

In addition to being free of caffeine and added sugar, Waku Lemon Prebiotic Herbal Tea also contains 6 grams of fiber in each serving.

Plus, it’s sweetened with monk fruit, a natural sweetener that is rich in flavonoids with antioxidant properties (12).

Best bottled coffee

High Brew Cold Brew Coffee — Black & Bold

Price: $$

Coffee is an excellent source of disease-fighting antioxidants.

In fact, not only is coffee one of the most widely consumed beverages around the globe, but research shows that it may also be one of the main sources of antioxidants in the average diet (13, 14, 15).

In particular, coffee is loaded with antioxidants like caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, catechin, quercetin, and rutin (16).

Interestingly, one very large review of 218 studies found that drinking 3–4 cups (720–960 mL) of coffee per day may be associated with a lower risk of heart disease, liver concerns, and certain types of cancer (17).

This cold brew coffee is free of sugar and dairy and can be a great option for those looking to bump up their intake of antioxidants and caffeine.

It’s also available in a variety of flavors, including Double Espresso, Salted Caramel, Dark Chocolate Mocha, and Creamy Cappuccino.

However, keep in mind that these varieties may contain dairy and additional flavorings and ingredients, depending on the type.

Best beet juice

Beetology Organic Beet + Berry Juice

Price: $$

Beets are packed with beneficial antioxidant compounds like betalains, the plant pigments that give beets their vibrant hue (18, 19).

Due to their antioxidant content, beets have been linked to a long list of health benefits. They may help reduce inflammation and improve heart health (20, 21, 22).

Featuring beet juice and strawberry, apple, raspberry, and bilberry juice, this Beetology drink is brimming with antioxidants.

What’s more, it’s organic and made without any preservatives, additives, or artificial colors or flavors, making it a tasty way to take advantage of the health benefits of beet juice.

Best pomegranate juice

POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice

Price: $$

Pomegranates are incredibly rich in antioxidants, with research showing that the antioxidant potential of pomegranate juice may be higher than that of both red wine and green tea (23).

What’s more, studies suggest that pomegranate juice may significantly reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and protect against the buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries (24, 25).

This product contains 100% pomegranate juice from concentrate and is made without any added sugars or genetically modified (GMO) ingredients.

It’s also a great source of potassium, which is an essential nutrient that regulates muscle contractions, fluid balance, blood pressure, and more (26).

However, because this beverage contains a good amount of natural sugars without any of the fiber found in whole fruit, be sure to moderate your intake and pair it with a balanced diet.

Best acai juice

V8 Acai Mixed Berry

Price: $$

Native to Central and South America, the acai berry is a tropical fruit loaded with antioxidants like orientin, isoorientin, and vanillic acid (27).

According to a small study in 7 athletes, drinking a juice blend with acai berry daily increased antioxidant levels in the blood and reduced cholesterol levels and exercise-induced muscle damage after 6 weeks (28).

While more research in humans is needed, test-tube and animal studies also suggest that acai may reduce oxidative stress and improve brain health (29, 30, 31).

Made from acai juice and a blend of vegetable juices with apple juice, white grape juice, and blueberry juice, this drink can definitely help squeeze some extra antioxidants into your diet.

Although this juice is made without any added sugar or artificial sweeteners, keep in mind that it contains a good amount of natural sugars from fruit.

That’s why it’s important to enjoy it in moderation as part of a healthy, well-rounded diet.

Best flavored water

Positive Beverage Prickly Pear Lemonade

Price: $

Made without any artificial colors, sweeteners, or preservatives, adding this flavored water to your diet is an easy way to boost your intake of micronutrients like vitamins C, B12, and D.

Vitamin C in particular is a water-soluble vitamin with powerful antioxidant properties (32).

In addition to neutralizing the effects of harmful free radicals, vitamin C can help regulate inflammation and oxidative stress (33).

Besides Prickly Pear Lemonade, several other flavors are available and offer a similar amount of antioxidants, including Mandarin Orange, Tropical Berry, Crisp Cucumber, and Perfect Peach.

Best coconut water

ZICO Natural 100% Coconut Water

Price: $

Coconut water is a great source of micronutrients like potassium, vitamin C, and manganese. It also contains a hearty dose of antioxidants in every serving (34, 35).

Although research in humans is lacking, several animal studies have found that coconut water could help protect liver health, as well as reduce oxidative stress and blood sugar levels (36, 37, 38).

ZICO coconut water is made without any added sugar and contains just one ingredient — coconut water.

It is also a good source of potassium and contains other electrolytes like calcium and magnesium, making it a great post-workout drink.

Best green juice

ALLWELLO Organic Cold Pressed Juice

Price: $$

This healthy juice is made using a blend of greens, including cucumber, parsley, and dill, each of which boasts a unique set of antioxidants, micronutrients, and health benefits.

Cucumbers, for instance, have a high water content and are often used to promote digestive regularity, support hydration, and protect against diabetes complications (39, 40).

Meanwhile, kale is a great source of vitamin K, along with antioxidants like kaempferol and quercetin (41, 42).

Dill has also been studied for its medicinal properties and may aid in managing diabetes and heart disease (43, 44).

While more human studies are needed to evaluate how these ingredients could affect health, adding a green juice to your diet is a simple way to increase your intake of antioxidants.

What’s more, this ALLWELLO juice is made without any added sugars and is gluten-free, vegan, and certified organic.

How do these drinks compare?

How to choose

When selecting a healthy antioxidant drink, there are several factors to consider.

First, check the ingredient label carefully and steer clear of products that contain added sugar, artificial flavors, and additives.

Ingredients like cane juice, high fructose corn syrup, glucose, or fruit nectar generally indicate that a drink contains added sugars.

The amount of added sugar is listed on the nutrition facts panel of a product.

Plus, keep in mind that ingredients are listed in order by quantity, with those present in the greatest amount appearing first. Ideally, antioxidant-rich ingredients like fruits, veggies, coffee, or tea should appear at the beginning of the list to ensure that you’re getting the most bang for your buck.

For caffeinated beverages, you may also want to consider the caffeine content of your drink.

While caffeine is required to be listed on the product label, manufacturers in the United States are not required to disclose the specific amount (45).

For those limiting their caffeine intake, this information may be obtained online or directly from the manufacturer.

Do antioxidant drinks have any side effects?

Though most antioxidant drinks are not associated with any side effects when enjoyed in moderation, there are some side effects to consider.

For starters, some drinks may contain caffeine, including certain types of tea or coffee.

Consuming high amounts of caffeine can cause side effects like anxiety, restlessness, and nausea for some people. Others may need to limit their intake, including those who are pregnant or nursing (45).

Some fruit-based beverages may also contain high amounts of natural sugars in each serving along with less fiber than the amount found in whole fruits.

Though these drinks can fit into a healthy, well-rounded diet, drinking excessive amounts could increase blood sugar levels in people with diabetes and may contribute to weight gain over time (46, 47).

You should also check the ingredients label carefully to find a product that works for you, especially if you have any food allergies, sensitivities, or intolerances.

Finally, some research suggests that consuming high amounts of antioxidants could actually be harmful and may be linked to a higher risk of certain types of cancer, but these risks are typically associated with high dose antioxidant supplements rather than those that naturally occur in foods and beverages (48).

Frequently asked questions about antioxidant drinks

What juices are good antioxidants?

Juices made with fruits or vegetables are typically rich in antioxidants. Some examples include green juices made from spinach, kale, or cucumbers, along with juices featuring mixed berries, beets, or pomegranates.

What are the benefits of antioxidant drinks?

Enjoying antioxidant-rich drinks made with fruits, veggies, coffee, or tea is a great way to increase your intake of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are essential for regulating inflammation and protecting cells from oxidative damage. For this reason, regularly consuming a variety of antioxidants may also protect against a range of chronic conditions, including certain types of cancer, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease (1).

Who are antioxidant drinks for?

Antioxidant drinks can be a great option for anyone looking to fit more antioxidants into their daily diet.

Keep in mind that certain drink varieties — such as those high in caffeine — may not be recommended for certain groups, including children and people who are pregnant or nursing (45).

Additionally, other types made with fruit may contain high amounts of natural sugars and should be enjoyed in moderation as part of a healthy diet.

The bottom line

There are many ways to ramp up your intake of antioxidants, and adding some antioxidant drinks to your diet is one of them. From coffees to teas to juices and more, there are plenty of options.

Keep in mind that enjoying a few servings of antioxidant drinks is just one piece of the puzzle. For best results, be sure to pair these products with a nutritious, well-rounded diet and healthy lifestyle.