When it comes to weight gain, sugar-filled drinks are part of the problem for many individuals. It is no wonder, as many people love the taste and over-consume them. Sugar-filled drinks are sweet, convenient and often give you a good feeling when you take that first sip. You may also experience a high after drinking them. That high, unfortunately doesn’t last long and turns to a low as your body tries to regulate your blood sugar. This may leave you feeling tired and lethargic or give you a low-energy feeling.

In my upcoming book, I talk a bit about sugar-filled drinks and weight gain. Did you know there are a whopping 39 grams of sugar in a can of coke?¹ That is equivalent to about 9-1/2 teaspoons! I can’t imagine consciously adding such a large amount of sugar to my drink. Can you? Unfortunately, most people who drink soda pop don’t realize they are ingesting so much sugar.

Many people opt for diet soda pop to avoid all of the sugar. Diet soda pop however, isn’t good for you either. It is loaded with chemicals and artificial sweeteners such aspartame, saccharin and sucralose, which are actually sweeter than sugar and can cause you to crave more sweets. In fact, according to the article, Is Diet Soda Bad For You? Here’s What It Does To Your Body,”artificial sweeteners seem to confuse the body’s natural ability to manage calories based on tasting something sweet.”² It is also a myth that drinking diet soda will help you lose weight. If you want to maintain a healthy diet, it best to avoid soda pop in general. Try substituting sparkling water, or Kombucha if you like the carbonation or fizz. They both come in a variety of flavor options and are much better for you.

Soda pop is not the only problem when it comes to sugar-filled drinks and weight gain. Many coffee drinks are loaded with sugar. While people have enjoyed coffee for years, today’s coffee shops offer consumers a variety of specialty drink choices, which are often are loaded with sugar. Many consumers don’t think about what is in their latte, cappuccino, or other blended drink and often focus on the sweet taste and the way it makes them feel when they are drinking it. Many specialty drinks give you a quick sugar high, but can actually leave you feeling drained later on and make you feel like you need more caffeine to stay awake.

Sorry to say, coffee shops most likely won’t eliminate sugar from their products any time soon. You can make healthier drink choices when you visit, however. Why not purchase a medium roast coffee and add your own cream and sugar? You can also use stevia or another alternate sweetener, such as honey to cut back on the sugar. You can also choose a drink that has less sugar, or try tea as an alternate choice to coffee. There are many unsweetened varieties and herbal versions you can try. Green tea is always a good choice, as it has medicinal properties and is loaded with antioxidants.

Thanks for reading and happy sipping!

Barb

Source:

¹“How Many Teaspoons of Sugar Are There in a Can of Coke?” LIVESTRONG.COM. Leaf Group, 14 Apr. 2015. Web. 31 Jan. 2017.

²”This Is What Happens to Your Lungs, Brain, Kidneys, Teeth and Mood When You Drink Diet Soda.” Dr. Axe. N.p., 07 Mar. 2017. Web. 20 Mar. 2017.