Eating wisely is important when adhering to the Power 9. But what do you think about drinks? That’s just the problem. We don’t think about what we’re drinking as much as we should.
Unconsciously, we sip our venti caramel macchiatos on our morning drives to work. We over-indulge in sodas and iced teas throughout the day, soothing our cravings until mealtime. We even keep vitamin water and juice in the fridge, blinded by the promising words on the bottle, “fruits and veggies!” With the amount of health risks that come with the overconsumption of sugar, it is pertinent that we stop choosing to be unaware of these calories in disguise.
According to the American Heart Association, women should only consume 24 grams (6 teaspoons) of sugar a day and men should limit themselves to 36 grams (9 teaspoons). These numbers are scary to say the least. If you drink one soda a day, you could already be drinking away a day’s worth of sugar. Keep in mind that the sizes of bottles, cans, and pouches sold in stores can contain more than the recommended serving size. For example, a can of Rockstar Energy Drink is 16 ounces, whereas a serving is 8 ounces, only HALF the amount! This can be misleading. Customers are not only taking in an excessive amount of sugar in their beverages, most of the time they are consuming twice the serving size, sometimes multiple times a day.
The benefits of drinking water in comparison to other beverages is clear. Water assists with the maintenance of our pH balance, our body temperature, our metabolism, and our breathing, not to mention it helps reduce various aches, pains, and diseases. To cut to the chase, rethink your drink and choose water!
Credit: The American Heart Association