Calorie-Burning Drinks: Do They Work?
Posted on Dec 3rd 2009 10:23AM by Kimberly PapaVeer
Could sipping soda be the secret to burning off extra calories? That's what the makers of a new diet drink, called Celsius, are hoping. The company claims that the beverage is not only calorie-free, but can actually help burn calories. So are the metabolism-boosting promises too good to be true?
Maybe. According to an ABC News report, the claims are backed by clinical studies funded by the company. Researchers who worked on the Celsius studies say the drink could burn off as many as 100 calories in a day, but also add that's just an average, and some people may experience a greater or lesser calorie-burning effect. See what our experts have to say.
Caffeine is the ingredient primarily responsible for the drink's metabolism-boosting properties, and it has quite a bit--200 milligrams per can. "You'd get the same thermogenic effect from coffee," says Jonny Bowden, PhD, C.N.S., AOL Health contributor and author of "The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth." "It's basically the equivalent of two big Starbucks with some trace amounts of vitamins thrown in."
While other diet experts not involved with the product agree the drink may help burn extra calories, they note the metabolism-boosting effect would most likely only last for a short period of time, rather than changing basal metabolic rate in the long term. Keri Gans, RD, MS, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, also cautions that, "Consuming high amounts of caffeine can actually be dangerous, because increases heart rate and blood pressure. And if you're drinking Celsius along with your coffee or tea, that amount could really add up." A safer way to rev up your metabolism? "Move a little more and eat small meals throughout the day," recommends Gans.
Looking for more ways to burn a few extra calories? Click through our gallery of negative-calorie foods.
