Drinking sugary beverages can lead to consuming excessive calories, with some drinks containing more calories than a candy bar. High fructose corn syrup in soft drinks can cause increased fat storage and overeating. Drinking enough water and opting for low-calorie alternatives can help avoid drinking excess calories.
Imagine taking your favorite candy bar, putting it in a blender, and then drinking the contents. Now imagine yourself doing that maybe three or four times a day, or possibly more often. Most standard-size candy bars actually have only slightly more calories than your favorite can of soda, and are generally lower in calories than drinks from your favorite coffee retailer. A large mocha, for example, can contain around 100-200 more calories than a chocolate bar.
The above example should give you an idea why drinking your calories like consuming sodas, milkshakes, sweetened coffees, and most alcoholic beverages may not be such a great idea. Most of us wouldn’t consider drinking three or four candy bars a day, but we may get the caloric equivalent when we choose sugary beverages, especially when we consume them frequently. Also, while a candy bar may provide some short-term satisfaction, drinking its calories rarely provides much of a feeling of satiety. People may not think of drinking multiple sodas or a vente mocha in one sitting, but they often combine this with eating as well, adding a caloric punch to a meal that will easily add inches to your waistline.
Part of the problem with calorie intake is that it’s much harder to keep track of the calories you consume on a daily basis. If you tabulate your consumption of three to four soft drinks a day, you’ve added approximately 450 to 600 calories to your diet. Two large mochas a day can cost you an extra 400 to 800 calories, even if you order them with skim milk.
Another problem with calorie intake is the sweeteners used in many soft drinks, especially high fructose corn syrup. The body processes high fructose corn syrup in a slightly different way than white sugar, and it can cause increased fat storage. It can actually make you feel less full as well, as it may not fully stimulate the body’s insulin production. Therefore, people who consume this sweetener may be more prone to overeating when combining soft drinks and other foods. Rising obesity levels in many Western countries are believed by many to be directly related to the use of high fructose corn syrup in a number of products, although clearly other factors are at play as well.
So how can you avoid drinking your calories? Start by consuming enough water each day to really address your body’s hydration needs. Most adults need eight to ten glasses of water a day, and if you don’t drink that much, consider making this a goal. Often people are surprised that their desire for other beverages decreases significantly when they actually consume enough water. It is also possible that drinking enough water per day makes you less hungry.
Do you love those coffee drinks? Consider downgrading from mochas to fat-free cappuccinos or lattes. A skim latte will offer you some calories in the form of milk and some protein, without the fat and sugar your body doesn’t really need. Even if you add a teaspoon of sugar (about 16 calories) you’ll still consume far fewer calories than you would for a sweetened beverage.
If you’re drinking your calories in the form of shakes, consider making your own shakes at home. Stick to nonfat unsweetened yogurt instead of the sugary frozen stuff, and add a banana for a sweet taste. A little protein powder can also make these drinks much higher in nutritional value, making them more like a meal than a drink.
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