Are Energy Drinks the New Diet Drink?
Posted on Sep 16th 2009 2:00PM by Liz NeporentLiz Neporent is a diet and fitness expert and co-author of "The Fat-Free Truth." She regularly appears on national TV programs and is the president of Wellness 360, a New-York based wellness provider. You can also follow her on Twitter @lizzyfit.
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| Photo: zmtomako, Flickr |
I know plenty of people who guzzle soft drinks and plenty of people who don't like drinking water. They are constantly looking for a tasty alternative to help them quench their thirst. So, are energy drinks the answer?
Perhaps. If you're a soda addict, each 8-ounce can you knock back without giving it a second thought will set you back about 100 to 120 empty calories. There is no calorie savings with some of the newer energy drinks, like Red Bull, plus they pack crazy amounts of caffeine and may not be great for your teeth. The same amount of the classic sugary energy drinks like Gatorade deliver just 50 calories. True, that's just half the damage of soda and may contain a few essential vitamins and minerals, but it's still a fairly significant slug of calories. Plus, who drinks just 8 ounces of anything, especially when you're parched? As a recent Columbia University study shows, most people easily chug their way through nearly 250 extra calories a day. Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health also found that liquid calories had a stronger impact on weight loss than calories from solid foods.
Before you drink your way into an unexpected weight gain, read the label carefully. Even clear beverages and vitamin waters may carry an unexpected caloric punch. Use our food evaluator to estimate the nutritional worth of your next beverage. Diet soda is the obvious choice if you're weight-loss conscious, though many people fear the effect of carbonation on bone health and the effect of artificial sweeteners on their overall health. Some energy drinks, especially the diet versions, don't contain very many calories – although if that is the case, they really can't qualify as "energy drinks" because calories are where energy comes from.
My 2 cents: I recently gave up a raging Diet Coke addiction and learned to love good old H2O. I notice the difference in how I feel, and I am not as bloated. If water isn't your thing, try spiking it with a generous shot of lemon, lime or try watermelon slices, fresh mint or a slice of peach. Drinks that are equal parts fresh juice and water are easy on the waistline and can be delicious over lots of ice. Iced tea and coffee provide some antioxidant and anti-aging benefits, but be careful not to overdo the caffeine.
If you decide to give up soda, I recommend buying your own water bottle or drinking filtered water. Besides giving the environment a break, you can potentially save major bucks. ($1.50 a bottle x 2 x 365 = $1,095 a year!)
Now for your 2 cents: Would love to hear your tips for drinking more water and low-calorie drinks. If you share them with me on Twitter and you're the fifth person to tweet me today, I'll send you a copy of Tracey Mallett's 6 Minute Quick Blast Method-Total Body Calorie Blast. I chose it as one of the top video workouts of 2009 for Prevention Magazine.
