Yes, it’s hot and we need to cool off. But beware added sugar in drinks and treats.
Sodas, sports drinks, sweet tea, all kinds of soft drinks – they should all be called sugar drinks. They taste good and it’s tough to avoid them, when they’re in the supermarket aisle, vending machines, fast food restaurants and many other convenient places.
As a result, many of us get in the habit of drinking these kinds of beverages every day, sometimes multiple times in a day.
However, we’re not doing our health any favors by turning to sweetened drinks to stay hydrated. Consuming too much sugar contributes to weight gain and insulin resistance. Insulin resistance in turn makes it more likely for a person to develop Type 2 diabetes.
Water is your best choice for health and hydration.
Substitute one water for a soda each day as a first step in reducing sugary drinks from your diet.
Vanderbilt Health’s employee wellness program, Health Plus, also recommends being aware this summer of the temptation to cool off with popsicles or ice cream cones for the same reason. Added sugar provides empty calories that can easily put us over our calorie goals without getting the nutrients we need.
To put this into perspective, a 20-ounce Coke provides zero nutrients and has about 16 teaspoons of added sugar, which is 130% percent of the daily recommendation – far more sugar than anyone should consume in an entire day.
Reduce your added sugar intake by treating yourself to one of these refreshing snacks and cooling drinks:
- Frozen grapes or watermelon cubes
- Smoothies made from fresh fruit; some vegetables can blend well with them, too.
- Ice water with lemon slices and mint leaves
