Have you ever thought about how your beverage choices are influencing your health each day? Many drinks are filled with additives, dyes, sugar, and calories that can leave you feeling sluggish and add up in empty calories very fast. Below are some tips to help you rethink your drink:

Cut Back on Sugary Drinks

People who often drink sugary drinks are more likely to face health problems, such as weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cavities, and gout, a type of arthritis. One can of pop has more than the recommended daily intake of sugar!  Don’t forget all the sugar in sports drinks, energy water, fruit juices, etc. 

• Choose healthier beverage alternatives such as water/sparkling water with fresh fruit and herbs, plain iced tea flavored with honey or agave nectar, etc.
• Make sure your fruit drinks are made with 100% fruit juice and remember 8 oz. is the proper serving size.

Cut Back on Artificial Dyes

What color is your sports drinks, electrolyte water, etc.? Those bright colors might look pretty, but can have many harmful effects on your body including hyperactivity, carcinogens, tumors, etc. Most of Europe has banned popular sports drinks because of all the dyes and chemicals in them!

• Look for natural color such as beets for red and turmeric for orange in the ingredient list of products.
• Choose clear drinks instead of colored.
• Find your go to brands that are dye free.
• Make your own electrolyte replacement drink with no dyes or additives.

Cut Back on Energy Drinks

High levels of caffeine and sugar in energy drinks can have major side effects such as increased blood pressure, heart rate, tremors, headache, dehydration, and anxiety. They even contain more sugar than a can of pop and can lead to addictive behaviors.

• Cut back slowly and dilute/replace with lots of water.
• Experiment with a balance of healthy foods to give your body the energy it needs without needing a boost from energy drinks.

Cut Back on Extra Calories

Many popular coffee beverages contain 500 calories and 67g of sugar which is around one fourth of your total calories for the day and the amount of added sugar you should be limiting for TWO days!  Are you also getting calories from your alcoholic drinks? Some alcoholic beverages can have up to 700 calories in them for just one cocktail. If these are drinks you consume on a daily basis, it can add up in empty calories very fast and cause weight gain, high blood sugar levels, and many other health complications.

• Ask for half the sugar and cream in your coffee drinks to cut back on calories and sugar.
• Use a smaller cup/mug or buy a smaller size to work on portion control.
• Drink tonic/sparkling water with liquor instead of pop, mixers, etc. or choose lower calorie drinks

For more tips and strategies to make healthier beverage choices, register for the four-week group health coaching series “Rethink Your Drink” starting on Wednesday, January 10 at noon. During this four-week series, Health Coaches Bonnie and Lindsay will take you through tips and strategies to create a healthier balance of beverage choices to have throughout the day. Click here to register.