THE DOWNFALL OF DRINKING YOUR CALORIES

 

Is Juice Bad for You?

Juice is basically fruit stripped of its fiber content, so what remains is a ton of sugar: 20-30 grams in an eight-ounce serving, depending on the type of juice. That’s on par with a regular soda.

In an average 8-ounce single serving of apple juice, you will find just more than 100 calories and 24 grams or six teaspoons of sugar. Think of it this way — 8 ounces of juice for seven days equals almost one cup of sugar.

 The Downfall of Drinking Your Calories

Drinking that much sugar causes a big spike in your blood sugar and insulin levels, which then drop to below their original levels, bringing on the inevitable crash. Fiber—which is found in the peel and body of a fruit—takes a lot of time to digest, and sugar absorption slows along with it, giving your body enough time to process it properly. When the fiber is absent, you absorb the sugar very quickly, so it rushes into your bloodstream. What your body doesn’t use right away gets stored as fat.

 Reach for water instead of juice or soda to save calories, slim down and have more energy.

 You are sitting at a restaurant and here comes the waiter. “Can I start you folks off with anything to drink?” You reply, “I will just have a soda please.” It is not “just” a soda — a small 12-ounce soda consists of about 140 calories and 39 grams of sugar. If you drank two cans or 24 ounces of soda everyday for one week, you would be pouring three cups of sugar into your body, which is enough to gain more than half a pound. That half pound is just from drinking soda and does not include the food you also consume that week.

 So what do I drink? H-2-0, more commonly known as water, is your best option. Water, is the best option for avoiding excess calorie intake through your daily fluids and also helps your body stay hydrated and healthy.

 Our bodies are made up of nearly 70 percent water, which includes our muscles, blood, skin and cells.

 When you drink sodas or juices, the added sugar and sodium is not only adding calories to your body, it is also making your body less efficient.

 When you drink sugary or salty drinks, your organs have to process those sugars and salts making your body use up more energy, which can make you feel tired. Most people will then drink more sugar for that initial “sugar-rush” feeling to keep them going, and the cycle continues throughout the day.

Over time, these sodas, juices and other drinks can lead to long-term health problems and have been associated with the development of diabetes in some people.

 The added calories alone from these drinks coupled with the growing portion sizes have helped increase America’s obesity rate over the last 30 years.

Stick with water and you will find yourself slimming down, feeling more energized and being a healthier person overall.