DISCLAIMER: Individuals depicted are models, for illustrative purposes only.
Health & Wellness
Watch What You Drink
Watch What You Drink
DISCLAIMER: Individuals depicted are models, for illustrative purposes only.
Swap sugary drinks
Many popular drinks appear healthy but are packed with added sugars and offer little to no nutrients. These can include juices, lemonades, sports drinks, energy drinks, soft drinks, flavored waters, or bottled teas.
People who often drink sugary drinks are more likely to face health problems such as weight gain, obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, cavities, and gout. The latest dietary guidelines for Americans recommend that people limit their intake of added sugars to less than 10% of their total daily calories. That would mean that in a 2,000 calorie diet, no more than 200 calories should come from added sugar. A 12-ounce regular soda has 150 calories that come from added sugar.
Check the nutrition label for sugar content. Keep in mind that added sugars go by many names, including glucose, sucrose, maltose, dextrose, high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar, agave nectar, and honey.
Make a smarter choice. Instead of soda, try unsweetened tea. Swap out the morning orange juice for an actual orange. And remember, water is always the best choice.
Limit alcohol
New research has found an association between higher alcohol consumption and an increased risk for stroke and developing peripheral artery disease (PAD). Drinking too much alcohol can raise your blood pressure.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend limiting intake of alcohol to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women. Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, weaker immune system, learning and memory problems, and more.
If cutting back on alcohol is hard for you to do on your own, ask your healthcare professional about getting help.
Limit Caffeine
While there isn’t clear evidence linking caffeine and coronary heart disease, caffeine does have other health effects. Since it’s a stimulant, it can cause disturbances to the heart and nervous system. It can also dehydrate you and may make it harder to sleep at night.