Rethink Your Drink

healthcommunities.com

Are you drinking your calories?  If so, stop wasting your time on empty calories!  Now, you may be wondering: "If they are empty calories, why do I feel so full and round"?  The reason they are called "empty calories" is because they provide nothing for your body but calories.  Empty calories like added sugar and solid fats provide few or no nutrients and benefits, just extra calories you probably don't need.  So if you are wanting to lose weight or maybe you've been trying for a while and aren't seeing great results, it's probably time for you to "RETHINK YOUR DRINK"!!!

Studies have shown that drinking beverages high in sugar can lead to obesity and increase your risk for developing type II diabetes.

Do you know how much sugar is in the beverages you drink?  It's important to check the nutrition label for sugar content (4 grams of sugar is equal to 1 teaspoon of sugar).

To help give you an idea, did you know?
- 44oz Fountain Drink = 38 teaspoons of sugar
- 6oz Juice = 4 teaspoons of sugar
- 16oz Energy Drink = 13 teaspoons of sugar
- 20oz Sports Drink = 8 teaspoons of sugar
- 12oz Soda = 12 teaspoons of sugar
- Sweet tea can pack just as much, sometimes more sugar than some sodas!

Instead, try some of these healthier alternatives to sugary drinks:
- DRINK MORE WATER!  Enhance its taste by adding freshly squeezed fruit juice or add sugar-free flavored packets like Crystal Light to your bottled water.
- Instead of sweet tea, add a packet of sugar-free sweetener to unsweetened tea.
- Instead of soda, mix 100% fruit juice with sparkling water.
- Substitute with a glass of low-fat or fat-free milk!