High calorie drinks may be your biggest weight loss problem. Soda and other sugary drinks have been linked to obesity. These are 5 high calorie drinks with expert recommendations about how much is safe.
Sugary Drinks Overview: Liquid calories had a bigger impact on weight loss than solid calories in a 2009 Johns Hopkins study. Researchers recommended that adults limit their liquid calorie intake and reduce their consumption of sugary drinks. Public health guidelines suggest drinking more beverages such as water with no calories or few calories, and drinking no more than 8 ounces of sweetened soda, juice drinks or sports drinks per day.
High Calorie Drinks: Soda
A 12 ounce can of regular Coca-Cola has 140 calories and 39 grams of sugar. If you drink soda daily, break the habit and save it for an occasional treat. Even diet soda has adverse health effects including bone weakening. Watch your portion size carefully because soda is often sold in bottles of 21 ounces or more.
High Calorie Drinks: Coffee Drinks
Many coffee drinks have so much sugar and fat they’re comparable to eating premium ice cream. At 16 ounces, a Starbucks Peppermint Mocha has 470 calories and 22 grams of fat. For holiday weight loss, you can cut that in half by ordering it with nonfat milk and skipping the whipped cream for a drink that’s just 220 calories with 2 grams of fat. For all the year round, you can indulge in lattes with nonfat milk or plain coffee hot or iced.
High Calorie Drinks: Juice
Many people underestimate the sugar and calories in juice. Eight ounces of Tropicana orange juice has 110 calories and 22 grams of sugar. Worse, these sugary drinks are often sold in bottles of 16 ounces or more. You’re better off eating the whole fruit to get less calories and more fiber.
High Calorie Drinks: Sports Drinks
A 32 ounce bottle of PowerAde Sports Drink has 256 calories and a whopping 60 grams of sugar. Water alone is adequate for many people who exercise. If you engage in intense sports, you may want to try eating salted foods with water as a substitute for such sugary drinks.
High Calorie Drinks: Alcohol
Alcohol is another big source of empty liquid calories. Even most light beers have about 100 calories a serving and creamy cocktails like a Brandy Alexander have about 250 calories. Drink in moderation. Try diet soda for some mixed drinks.
Sources: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Harvard Health Publications, WebMD
