I'm about to turn 70. People ask me all the time what my secret is — like there's a pill, a supplement, some magic morning ritual. There isn't. But I started wondering recently: does what I drink actually matter more than I think?
Turns out, yes. A lot.
EatingWell just put out a piece rounding up what dietitians say are the best drinks for healthy aging. And it got me thinking about my own cup — literally, what's in it most mornings when I'm sitting somewhere new, watching a sunrise I didn't have six months ago.
Water still wins, and I'm not surprised
Every dietitian list like this starts with water, and honestly, it should. Dehydration gets sneakier as we age. Our sense of thirst dulls. I've felt it myself — hiking in dry climates, feeling fine, then realizing three hours later I hadn't had a sip since breakfast.
Staying hydrated affects everything: joints, skin, digestion, even how sharp your brain feels. When I travel full-time, water is the one thing I never skimp on, no matter the country or the budget. It's the cheapest health insurance there is.
Tea and coffee aren't the enemy anymore
For years we were told coffee was bad for us. Then the story flipped. Now dietitians point to green tea and coffee as genuinely useful parts of an aging-well routine, largely because of the antioxidants they carry — compounds that help your body deal with everyday wear and tear.
I drink coffee most mornings, no guilt attached. Why would I give up something I enjoy based on advice that keeps changing every decade? That's the thing about nutrition science — it evolves. So I pay attention, but I don't panic over every new headline. I just ask: does this make sense, and does it fit how I actually want to live?
Fermented and dairy-based drinks for gut and bone health
Drinks like kefir keep showing up in these conversations too, and it makes sense. As we age, our gut microbiome shifts, and a healthy gut has a ripple effect on everything from immunity to mood. Dietitians also point to low-fat milk and fortified options for bone health — something that matters more the longer you keep moving, hiking, climbing in and out of boats, chasing adventures the way I do.
I'll be honest, kefir took some getting used to. Tangy, a little weird the first few sips. But so did sushi the first time, and look how that turned out.
Juices that do more than taste good
Tart cherry juice and beet juice get mentioned a lot in healthy aging conversations, mostly for their anti-inflammatory benefits and their effect on blood flow. Inflammation is one of those quiet things that builds up over the years and shows up later as stiffness, fatigue, or worse. Anything that helps keep it in check is worth paying attention to.
I'm curious by nature, so naturally I want to know: what happens if I actually swap my evening soda for tart cherry juice for a month? Would I notice a difference? That's the kind of experiment I like running on myself. Not because a magazine told me to, but because I want to see the results firsthand.
Why this actually matters to you
Here's the bigger point. None of this is about chasing youth or fighting aging like it's a war. It's about staying capable. Staying mobile. Staying curious enough to keep saying yes to the next trip, the next mountain, the next weird new food someone hands you in a market in Lisbon or Oaxaca.
What you drink is one of the easiest levers you have. You don't need a gym membership or a drastic diet overhaul. You just need to pay attention to the glass in your hand.
I've learned that growing older isn't about slowing down. It's about giving your body what it needs so you can keep moving forward. A better drink choice today is a small, simple decision. But small decisions, repeated for years, are exactly how people end up thriving at 70, 80, 90.
So, what's in your glass right now? Maybe it's time to switch it up and see what happens.
Source: EatingWell
Related reading from us: Someone Finally Noticed: Getting Older Isn't a Disease
