Feeling thirsty? Don't just grab a can of cola. Do yourself a favour by opting for a drink with hidden health benefits - from natural heart-boosters to herbal backache cures. Here's our pick of what's on offer...

By Jane Murphy

Why's it good for me? It helps protect your heart by lowering cholesterol levels. How? It's all thanks to an impressive-sounding ingredient called Plant Sanol Ester, which blocks cholesterol from entering the bloodstream. Studies suggest it can reduce LDL cholesterol by up to 14% as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Oh, and the fruit-filled smoothie counts as one of your five-a-day.

Where can I get it? Price £3.49, from supermarkets nationwide, www.benecol.co.uk.

Why's it good for me? The organic fruits used in each drink are high in antioxidants (for all-round good health) and polyphenols (which help your heart run like clockwork). The drinks also contain Evesse organic apples, which have earned "UK superfruit" status, thanks to their high levels of flavanols: these help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system.

Where can I get it? Price £1.99, from stores including Waitrose, Planet Organic and Harvey Nichols, www.rdaorganic.com.

Why's it good for me? If you suffer from back pain, this is the tea for you! A natural alternative to painkillers, it contains a special blend of herbs, including North American herb cramp bark and Pulsatilla, which are believed to calm nerves and relieve muscle and joint pain. The tea's refreshing spearmint taste is a real pick-me-up, too.

Where can I get it? Price £9.60 for 100g, from www.napiers.net.

Why's it good for me? This 100% pure fruit juice contains a tasteless tomato extract, Fruitflow, that boasts proven heart and circulation benefits. It works by flattening the blood platelets and stopping them from clotting: it's these clots that causes heart attacks and strokes. Studies show these benefits can't be achieved through drinking the same amount of tomato juice.

Where can I get it? Price 99p, from stores including Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, and www.sircoheart.com.

Why's it good for me? Papayas are a rich source of the phytochemical lutein, which is essential for good eye health. It's naturally present in the macula area of the retina, which is responsible for central vision. Research suggests lutein can reduce the risk of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) - a major cause of blindness in the elderly.

Where can I get it? Price £1.29, from supermarkets nationwide, www.rubiconexotic.com.

Why's it good for me? No, prune juice isn't just good for making you go to the loo. It helps protect against free radical damage, by neutralising stomach acids, accelerating digestion and protecting skin cells. Prunes are also a good source of potassium, which helps normalise blood pressure. Sunraysia's prunes come from Agen in south-west France, one of the world's richest sources of the fruit.

Where can I get it? Price £2.99, from Waitrose, www.sunraysia.com.

Why's it good for me? The yang-mei berry has been used in Chinese medicine for the past 1,400 years, as a cure for all sorts of common complaints. Some examples? Headaches, stomach upsets and that all-too-familiar condition, ‘muddle-head syndrome'. The berries contain powerful antioxidants, which are said to be 50 times stronger than vitamin E and 20 times stronger than vitamin C. Impressive!

Where can I get it? £2.50, from health food shops and www.yumberryuk.co.uk.

Why's it good for me? This vitamin-enriched water comes in six different varieties with various health-boosting properties. Our favourites? V Water Shield contains vitamin C, zinc and echinacea, all of which help support the immune system. And V Water Kick gives the body a great pick-me-up, thanks to the hydro-powered combination of B vitamins and ginseng.

Where can I get it? £1.50, from supermarkets nationwide, www.vwater.com.

Why's it good for me? This is a great drink to take to your aerobics class. The reason? It's naturally isotonic, so helps you rehydrate quickly. It also boasts a potassium hydration booster, which stimulates the absorption of fluid from the intestine, so it can get to the parts of the body that really need it. Plus it contains contains around 50% of the recommended daily amount (RDA) of vitamins and minerals needed for healthy body function.

Where can I get it? From £1.15, from Tesco, Sainsbury's, Asda and Morrisons, www.juice-doctor.co.uk.

Why's it good for me? Pomegranates have long been revered for their health benefits, largely thanks to their super-high antioxidant levels, which are three times greater than that of red wine or green tea. A recent trial revealed that drinking just 250ml pure pomegranate juice daily for two weeks helped reduce blood pressure in 60% of respondents.

Where can I get it? Price £3.29 for 500ml, from Waitrose and www.ocado.com.Visit www.pomegreat.com.