Liquid calories: They matter. Much.

A calorie is a calorie. No matter whether the calorie intake came from solid or liquid form, our bodies absorb and counts every single one of it. For anyone trying to lose weight, “liquid calories” is frightening and it should be – the calories we drink go quickly down the hatch, no chewing required.

People tend to think that calories in beverages don’t count and that’s where we get into trouble. For me, the best way to start any weight loss journey or to start living healthy is to cut out on the following liquid calories:

• Soda – has the worst reputation when it comes to “bad-for-you” beverages. It contains, caffeine, carbonated water which is water infused with carbon dioxide to create bubbles, sugar (no need to give this a bad rap, we already know excess sugar is bad for us), phosphoric acid and high fructose corn syrup. “Diet” soda isn’t less evil. It claims to be “sugar free” but they are loaded with chemically processed artificial sweetener called Aspartame (also called “sweet poison”).

 

• Fruit Juices – Juices in cartons available at supermarkets, even those that claim to be “100%” Apple or Orange are mostly pasteurized to extend shelf life and then engineered to taste fresh. Pasteurization heats the juice, killing valuable nutrients in the process. Commercial fruit juices with 10% or so fruit juice content are loaded with sugar and additives.
• Alcohol – At this age, alcohol can only give me two things: getting tipsy and added calories. Cutting out alcohol is an easy way to cut out the overall caloric consumption. Simple.
   
• Coffee – (especially with milk and sugar and that frothy cream from Starbucks with caramel of choco swirls) but even without these, coffee isn’t exactly healthy. Caffeine may seem to give you that quick pick-me-up with its artificially-stimulated highs, but those are always followed by bottom-out lows. These spikes and dips drain your natural resources for sustainable energy, ultimately wearing you down and causing fatigue.

“Fluid calories do not hold strong satiety properties, don’t suppress hunger and don’t elicit compensatory dietary responses,” says Richard D. Mattes, professor of food and nutrition at Purdue University. In fact, “when drinking fluid calories, people often end up eating more calories overall.” Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages have been linked to the obesity epidemic, which affects two-thirds of adults and increases the risk for adverse health conditions such as type 2 diabetes.

So even if your food intake is stellar, if you keep drinking your calories, it’s more likely that it could hinder, stop or reverse your weight loss efforts. And make you diabetic – especially if you don’t exercise.

But really, we all already know that. The problem is, sometimes we don’t do anything about what we know.

SO, WHAT ARE THE BEST BEVERAGE CHOICES?

When I talk to friends about this topic, they always ask me, “What is left to drink then!?” as if I’ve stripped them of ALL choices and they’d die of thirst. My answer would always be: “What is wrong with having water?”

Alternatives to “cure” liquid calorie intake addiction:

• Water – With all the commercially marketed drinks available, water is the best at its job: Hydrating. But if plain water is too boring for you, add lemon slices. Sparkling water is also a healthy option.

 

• Tea – Choose naturally non-caffeinated teas such as Rooibos and other herbal or fruit teas. I have 5 different tea flavors in my work desk and along with a pot that I fill with hot water, I enjoy different tastes and aromas without consuming empty calories throughout the day. So now’s the time to experiment with different tea flavors – the possibilities are endless! My favorites are peppermint, Tropical Fruit tea, Tahiti, India and Morocco flavor from Lipton and Rooibos.

 

• Freshly made juices – Juices, freshly made from whole, raw fruits and vegetables not only hydrate perfectly like water, but they feed as well, providing essential vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, enzymes, and macronutrients. Great for breakfast!

Bad eating and drinking habits are formed habits. Therefore, it can be unformed – with time, patience and lots of practice. Honestly, with enough information available in the internet today regarding the good, the bad and the ugly about sugar-laden beverages, how can we still choose to have it over and over again?

Tagged as: diet, Fitness

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