According to USA Today, teens who drink soda, energy drinks and other sugary beverages are guzzling about 327 calories a day from them, which is equal to about 2 1/2 cans of cola, new government data show. These results came from more than 17,000 interviews conducted from 2005 to 2008. It included sodas, energy drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, and sweetened bottled waters.
Rachel Johnson, a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association and a nutrition professor at the University of Vermont stated, “Sugar-sweetened beverages are the No.1 single source of calories in the American diet and account for about half of all added sugars that people consume.”
Of course these dietary habits are associated with obesity and type-2 diabetes. Barry Popkin, Nutrition Professor at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, says consumption of super-caffeinated energy drinks, especially among teens and young adults, is skyrocketing. “These are empty calories with no health benefits.”
Unfortunately products like Red Bull, Coca Cola or fruit drinks not only provide extra calories but can cause dehydration as well. Better to reach for a glass of water. One of the drinks I recommend has no artificial flavors, sweeteners, or preservatives. It actually minimizes fluid loss for enhanced hydration, maintains blood-glucose levels, and even increases endurance for better athletic performance. Many of my family members use this as a natural energy drink without the added sugars of normal sports drinks. In place of Red Bull, I often recommend a product that delivers a scientific blend of caffeine from natural green tea extract, plus L-tyroisine, L-theanine, B vitamins and vitamin D, again with no artificial flavors, sweetners, or preservatives.
The Heart Association advises people to consume no more than 36 ounces or about 450 calories from sugary beverages a week. Again, water seems to be a great solution to this issue! How about you? Can you keep those sugary drinks to just 36 ounces a week?
