Drink Yourself Slim
Posted on Dec 1st 2009 1:11PM by Myatt MurphyWhat you choose to quench your thirst could go a long way towards helping you shed those unwanted pounds. No matter kind of drink you're after -- electrolyte replacements, energy boosters, high-in-fiber, or protein-filled -- we have the best beverages to keep you hydrated while boosting your weight loss.
Drink Yourself Slim
By Myatt Murphy
What you choose to quench your thirst could go a long way towards helping you shed those unwanted pounds. No matter kind of drink you're after -- electrolyte replacements, energy boosters, high-in-fiber, or protein-filled -- we have the best beverages to keep you hydrated while boosting your weight loss.
Green Tea
We Choose: Vida Tea Ultra Premium Sparkling Green Tea
The Weight-Loss Edge: Studies have shown that drinking green tea can raise your metabolism. It's also rich in catechins, a polyphenolic antioxidant that has anti-inflammatory properties, so you have less aches and pains when you exercise. Studies have also shown that catechins may prevent your body from storing as much fat.
Why We Love This One: Vida Tea comes in three delicious flavors (desert pear, wild berry and pomegranate) and gets its taste from organic agave nectar, which is low-glycemic so it won't cause a rise in your blood sugar, and trigger your body to store excess calories as fat.
Antioxidants
We Choose: Sambazon Organic Açaí Juice
The Weight-Loss Edge: Most people think eating any type of fat means you'll get fatter. However, regularly consuming healthy fatty acids helps stabilize your blood sugar and leaves you feeling fuller longer, so you snack less throughout the day.
Why We Love This One: Sambazon is loaded with antioxidants: These helpful substances do a lot more than just prevent cardiovascular disease and help slow down the aging process -- they make sure you can exercise longer and harder for better results.
Calcium
We Choose: Farmland Dairies' Special Request Skim Plus
The Weight-Loss Edge: The mistake many dieters make is following diets that limit how much dairy they should eat -- leaving their bodies lacking in key vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. The problem? Studies have shown that getting plenty of calcium in your diet actually keeps you leaner by increasing fat-burning potential, while decreasing how much fat your body can store.
Why We Love This One: This fat-free, 100 percent cow's milk contains no artificial hormones or antibiotics and comes in mini 12-ounce grab-n-go bottles. But what makes it unique is that it contains 37 percent more protein and 34 percent more calcium than whole milk.
Water
We Choose: HINT Water
The Weight-Loss Edge: Keeping yourself properly hydrated throughout the day can leave you feeling fuller and decrease your appetite without adding a single calorie. It also keeps your metabolism churning, since being dehydrated can slow it down.
Why We Love This One: Unlike many flavored waters that add excess sugar and calories, this top contender doesn't have a trace of sugar, sweeteners, sodium or preservatives. It's just as healthy as regular water, yet comes in 13 guilt-free flavors.
Water
Another Favorite: Skinny Water
Why We Love This One: It's fortified with good-for-you nutrients, vitamins and antioxidants that may help suppress your appetite. While it comes in fewer flavors than HINT water, you still have plenty of satisfying, zero-calorie options. Now, that's a weight-loss bonus.
Fiber
We Choose: Lightfull Satiety Smoothie
The Weight-Loss Edge: As fiber expands in your stomach, it takes up volume in your stomach, giving you the sensation of feeling fuller and less likely to eat more food than you really need. It also speeds up digestion, so the foods you do eat pass through your system quickly and fewer calories are absorbed and stored elsewhere on your body.
Why We Love This One:Weighing in at just 90 calories per 8.25 ounce bottle and available in five yummy flavors (chocolate, café latte, peachy cream, strawberry bliss and mango), one LightFull smoothie contains 5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein, a mix that can curb your appetite and leave you feeling full for an average of two to three hours.
Fiber
Another Favorite: Kellogg's All-Bran Fiber Drink Mix
Why We Love This One:The easy-pour packets fit right in your pocket or purse, mixes instantly with water and contains a whopping 10 grams of fiber (that's 40 percent of what experts recommend you should have daily in one tasty serving).
Protein
We Choose: Designer Whey's Protein Blitz
The Weight-Loss Edge: The more lean muscle you have, the more calories your body burns even when you're not doing a thing. Another bonus: Your body spends more calories digesting protein compared to carbohydrates and fats, plus, it helps you feel more full so you're less hungry.
Why We Love This One:Packed with 30 grams of high-quality whey protein, this non-fat, super-low carb drink (it has 1g of carbs) tastes just like juice and has only 120 calories. Most protein drinks tend to be thicker in texture, harder to digest and loaded with unnecessary fat and carbs.
Caffeine
We Choose: FYXX Energy Water
The Weight-Loss Edge: Many dieters look to caffeine to jumpstart their metabolism by giving their central nervous system a boost. But that effect can be minimal. Instead, it's best used as to give yourself a little more push with your exercise regime. Research has shown that having 140 to 400 mg of caffeine 30 to 60 minutes prior to exercise can increase your heart rate and breathing, which can increase your endurance so you last longer -- and burn more calories.
Why We Love This One: FYXX is natural spring water -- that means no calories and no sodium -- but each 20-ounce bottle is infused with 110 mg of caffeine. Don't worry -- it's tasteless!
Fitness expert Myatt Murphy is the author of the best-selling books, The Body You Want in the Time You Have, Ultimate Dumbbell Guide and The Men's Health Gym Bible.
