As the weather heats up, nothing seems to quench the thirst and tickle the taste buds quite like lemonade. It’s chilly, tangy and refreshing – as simple as it is satisfying. This sugar-free lemonade recipe takes out the bad stuff – sugar – and replaces it with low-glycemic sweetener stevia.

While lemonade’s key star is obviously lemons, it gets its quintessential summertime sweetness from none other than sugar itself, making an otherwise light, carefree drink something to worry about in terms of health and weight. The following lemonade recipe makes for a summertime refreshment you’ll be happy you had, from start to finish.

In one cup of regular lemonade, there are 100 calories, 25 grams of sugar and about 16 percent of the RDA of vitamin C. While the vitamin C dosage is favorable, the sugar pretty much crowds out any of its benefits.

This recipe for sugar-free lemonade can do without the “sugar-free” disclaimer when it comes to considering its taste. Nothing about being sugar-free compromises the experience. To your taste buds, its simply delicious, nourishing and hydrating to the last drop. To your body, however, it is in a league of its own. Without the sugar, the calories are virtually nonexistent and instead of a sugar-rush, it acts as a tonic of source, alkalizing the blood and promoting proper digestion. Enjoy!

Lemonade Recipe

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 4 lemons
• 1 quart water
• 8-10 drops liquid stevia
• Handful of fresh mint

Directions

Juice the lemons and strain the lemon juice into a glass pitcher in order to remove any flesh or seeds from getting into the lemonade. Add the stevia and stir. Then add the water and mint. Stir until well combined. Chill in the refrigerator before serving. Serve this lemonade recipe with ice.

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Lemonade  image via Shutterstock

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