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Do drinks make you fat?
It’s easy to grab a fizzy or energy drink on the run. And it can make you feel good for a while – right? We check out those sneaky calories hiding in some hard-to-resist drinks.
What does a fizzy drink provide?
Vitamins and minerals? No
Sugar and calories? Yes.
The sugars in fizzy drinks these days, provide around 20% of the average teenager’s daily calorie intake. That means 1/5 of the calories we’re swallowing don’t have any nutritional value whatsoever!
We take a look at energy drinks, fizzy drinks, juices, water and milk– and have some advice about what to drink when.
Does it satisfy your appetite – or are you still hungry? There’s no fooling the human body. It knows the difference between real food and drinks! But it can barely tell the difference between a calorie-loaded fizzy drink and the equivalent amount of water. So if you’ve got an appetite, eat food and your body will tell you it’s full. Drink fizzy and you’ll load up on calories – but you’ll still feel hungry.
Try calorie-trading
Instead of throwing down a can of fizzy (approx 140 calories), have a glass of water instead. That way you’ll quench your thirst – and you’ll be able to eat those calories you’re not drinking!
What to drink
ANYTIME
Water: Great for your skin, hair, digestive system and body! Quenches your thirst, costs nothing and has zero calories! Love it!
Milk: Trim or reduced-fat kinds have fewer calories and fat, plus calcium for healthy bones.
100% pure fruit and veggie juices: (Be careful to avoid fruit drinks which have added sugar). Contain fibre and vitamins – especially vitamin C. But limit to one glass a day!
SOMETIMES
Fruit smoothie: Made with fruit and low or reduced fat milk or low fat yogurt. We’re not talking fast food ‘shakes’ here
– many are loaded with sugars and fat so avoid them!
Tea and coffee: Both have lots of healthy antioxidants, but can become high in calories when you add sugar, full-fat milk etc. Have them with trim milk and sugar substitute. (And unless it’s decaf, stick to one or two cups a day—the caffeine can keep you up at night.) Don’t drink them with meals as they can reduce absorption of essential nutrients like iron.
Diet drinks: They’re calorie-free, but nutrient-free too (and not great for your teeth).
BAN THEM!
Regular fizzy drinks: Nothing but sugar here.
Fruit drinks: Unless it says “100 percent juice,” they’re likely to contain similar levels of sugar and calories as fizzy drinks. You’re better off with water!
Sports drinks: Unless you’re a high performance athlete, stay away from sports drinks. They are designed to replace energy and dentists report that they see a lot of problems with athletes’ teeth as a result of these drinks.
Energy drinks: They’re packed with calories and non-essential nutrients. Steer clear of these!
Check out our article on the calories in alcohol here!
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omg i love coffee….what am i going to do now, lol, jokes Posted by tkennard "on" 08/10 "at"12:13 PM |
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I haven’t had a fizzy drink in ages, the vending machines no longer tempt me:) Posted by Sugaax! "on" 08/08 "at"02:02 AM |
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i love my suger free energy drinks i just make sure i only have 2 max a week because i really dont think anyone out there really needs that much energy Posted by WONKY "on" 01/22 "at"04:46 PM |
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thats what i thought! Posted by 40125 "on" 01/15 "at"03:40 PM |
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This isnt about alcohol…. Posted by 9384 "on" 01/14 "at"07:12 PM |
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I didnt know coffee could reduce absorbtion of nutrients… everyone always has coffee with breakfast. So thats bad?? and what kind of drink would give you the most energy thn? Posted by 9384 "on" 01/14 "at"07:00 PM |
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Hey there
This is untrue. Diet drinks contain only a few calories and do not affect insulin levels, therefore don’t cause weight gain. I am living proof - I love diet coke and drink it all the time - and have done ever since I did Weight Watchers and lost 18 kilos over 10 years ago. I have never put the weight back on despite drinking a lot of diet coke (I am 5 foot 9 and weight 58 kilos). There are a lot of rumours around regarding diet drinks but most if not all are just that - rumours. I also have several diabetic friends, one very severe, and they safely drink diet drinks often as they do not affect their insulin levels and are therefore safe for them. Hope this helps! Posted by hannah247girl "on" 01/11 "at"12:55 PM |
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Hey! I’ve heard that drinks such as diet coke and sprite zero (despite containing no sugar) still have exactly the same effect as regular soft drinks in relation to weight gain - apparently something to do with insulin levels. Please could you help clear this up for me as I love fizzy drinks and am so confused! Thanks =) Posted by beautyjunkie "on" 01/11 "at"12:25 PM |
Best of the rest
