Live Longer Habits

Liquid calories come from drinks you have every day, like soda, fruit juices, sports drinks, and alcohol. These calories can add up fast and often go unnoticed in our diet. 

Many of these drinks contain "empty" calories, meaning they don't provide much in the way of nutrients like fibre, protein, vitamins, or minerals, and can even have a lot of sugar. 

When you drink your calories, your body doesn’t signal you to stop eating in the same way it does when you eat solid food. This can make it easier to consume more calories than you realise. 

High-calorie drinks:

- 500ml soda contains around 250 calories and 70 grams of sugar; that’s like having 15 teaspoons of sugar! 

- A Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte has about 422 calories and 50 grams of sugar. 

- A glass of orange juice can have 120 calories and 22 grams of sugar, while a whole orange only has around 45 calories and more fibre. 

- Looking at alcoholic drinks, a small glass of wine (150ml) can have between 125 to 150 calories, while a larger margarita (250ml) may have 370 calories, and a 350ml pina colada can pack a massive 650 calories! I

f you cut out just one drink of around 250 calories a day, you could lose about 1 kg (2 pounds) every month without changing anything else in your meals! 

What can you do instead? 

- Drink more water. Try adding a squeeze of fresh lemon for flavour or choose zero-calorie flavoured waters or sparkling water. 

- Explore new teas, as there are many tasty options available. 

- Make your coffee at home instead of buying fancy coffee drinks. 

- Skip the morning juice and opt for whole fruit instead. 

- Choose lower-calorie alcoholic drinks and drink water or soda water afterwards. 

- Keep a diary of your liquid calorie intake. 

There are many apps available that can help you track this easily. Remember, there are exceptions to these tips. In some cases, medical professionals may recommend special protein shakes for patients, but be careful. Many ready-made protein drinks can have added sugars and calories and may not offer a balanced diet.

Source: scottsdaleweightloss