Eddy's Blog
What beverages are best and why? This will get you thinking!
Many so called ‘healthy beverages’ are high in sugar. When we take a closer look at fruit juices for example, as previously mentioned, I just would not recommend them. As far as eating fruit is concerned, if you are concentrating on getting to a healthy weight range and improving your general well-being I would recommend 2 servings a day at most with pears, kiwi fruits and most berries topping the list. Besides the phytochemicals in fruits (healthy liver function properties, micronutrients and antioxidants) fruit also has decent amounts of fibre which may contribute to your essential daily intake. If you are in a healthy weight range than this means eating higher amounts of fruit may not necessarily be of any concern. Fruit juices, flavoured milk, flavoured water, vitamin waters and so called ‘good for you’ hydrating liquid beverages are actually not to be encouraged to be consumed by you or your loved ones. There are 3 very significant reasons as to why this suggestion should be taken seriously and sugar is the central focus point:
- High sugar content is the number one reason. I have spoken to many individuals who have had lap band surgery who have mentioned that they have tried to be healthy by drinking juice from fruit. Every person I have chatted with in relation to this has told me that they were unsatisfied with the surgery. Initially they had noticed good results however as they continued to drink fruit juices their weight started to creep back up. Whether you have had lap bad surgery or not, fruit juices should be avoided!
- Lack of fibre in the types of drinks highlighted above is an essential reason for not consuming these drinks. Full of sugar with little to no fibre means that your body will put weight on rapidly by consuming these so called ‘healthy for you’ liquid beverages. This includes fruit juice which lacks the fibre that you would get out of eating a real piece of fruit
- Sports drinks actually dehydrate you instead of hydrate you properly. These drinks used to hydrate athletes and sports people have way to much sugar content making any other nutritionally sound ingredients ineffective. Certain sports drinks that claim to hydrate are nothing more than a scam marketed so heavily that the consumer is taken for a ride into believing that these drinks actually work by replenishing the electrolytes lost during exercise. The high amounts of sugar content, and at times caffeine content has the exact reverse effect causing the user to want to drink even more of this so called ‘hydration formula’ Most sporting clubs and athletes add large amounts of water to dilute these drinks in order to avoid dehydration.
There really is no reason to be drinking any of the above highlighted beverages. They will only add to your hips, thighs, buttocks and waistline. Nutritionally they are not sound and serve very little purpose. Water, unflavoured mineral/soda water and most teas are by far the only beverages we should be consuming. All health professionals understand this and scientific research in this area remains unchanged. Go for the healthy options, train yourself to enjoy beverages that actually hydrate you properly and avoid all of the above highlighted drinks at all costs.
