We all love a cold refreshing drink with a meal, after physical activity or as a snack. Sodas, sweet tea, energy drinks and other sugary drinks taste great; yet contain a lot of calories and no nutrients. What you drink makes an impact on your health. Do we stop and think about how much sugar we drink daily? Do we really want to drink these extra calories daily?
Americans consume 200 to 300 more calories each day than we did 20 years ago. Nearly 50% of this increased calorie consumption is from sugar-sweetened beverages, Drinking one soda a day can equal an extra 25 pounds per year.
Sodas are getting bigger. Super-sized sodas can be as large as 4-5 regular cans.
- 20 oz. soda contains 17 teaspoons of sugar
- 16 oz. Iced Mocha contains 14 teaspoons of sugar
- 16 oz. Apple Juice contains 13 teaspoons of sugar
- 20 oz. Sports Drink contains 12 teaspoons of sugar
- Water contains 0 teaspoons of sugar
Next time you pour yourself a drink, don’t pour on the pounds! Drink plenty of water and add cut up fresh fruit for added flavor. If you drink juice, add some water or seltzer to cut calories and sugars. Skip sports or energy drinks and choose water. This will quench your thirst. Read labels and menu boards to learn how many calories and sugars are in your favorite drinks.
Written by: Beth Stefura, Extension Educator, Ohio State University Extension
Sources: nyc.gov/health
I always dilute my fruit juice using my homemade hydration drink recipe. This has the added benefit that properly diluted juices are absorbed more rapidly into the body than the full strength bottled juices. When I want a tasty no-calorie drink I make iced tea or lemonade sweetened with stevia.