Popular Drinks That Are Wrecking Your Body, Say Dietitians
Whether you're trying to lose weight or simply get healthier, odds are you've considered revamping your eating habits before. However, it's not just what's on your plate that could be contributing to your weight gain and ill health—what you drink could be equally culpable in terms of sabotaging your health and fitness goals.
If you want to get healthier in a hurry, read on to discover which drinks dietitians say are wrecking your body. And if you're eager to shed a few pounds, check out these 15 Underrated Weight Loss Tips That Actually Work.
Clear Fruit
It may have fruit in the name, but that doesn't mean Clear Fruit is a healthy choice, experts say.
"It looks like a regular flavored water but is actually loaded with sugar," explains Kristian Morey, RD, LDN, a clinical dietitian at The Center for Endocrinology at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. "A 20-ounce bottle has 57 grams of sugar, which is more than the recommended daily amount, and nearly as much as a Coke."
Diet soda
That diet soda may be calorie-free, but that doesn't mean it won't cause ill effects on your health.
"Many consumers will opt for diet sodas as a way to cut calories and added sugar, but this unfortunately only trades one problem for another," says Trista Best, RD, a dietitian with Balance One Supplements, who notes that the artificial sweeteners used in diet sodas are of particular concern.
"Sucralose promotes gas and bloating because it causes gastrointestinal irritation. This artificial sweetener also reduces the amount of healthy gut bacteria. This side effect makes gastrointestinal discomfort and irritation more likely," Best explains.
For more, don't miss Surprising Ways Drinking Diet Soda Affects Your Body, Say Experts.
Bubble tea
Black, green, and various herbal teas may have a wide range of health benefits, but bubble tea is anything but a healthy addition to your diet.
"It is usually loaded up with added sugars, sweetened condensed milk, preservatives, and artificial flavors, making it one of the worst drinks for your health," says Megan Byrd, RD, of The Oregon Dietitian. "Consuming so much sugar and artificial ingredients in one sitting can cause mood swings, energy crashes, and cravings later in the day."
Kombucha
Just because you picked up that bottle of kombucha at your local health food store doesn't mean it's a healthy drink. While there are many low-sugar kombucha brands with some awesome benefits, not every bottle will be good for you.
"Some kombucha drinks are loaded with sugar," explains Tina Marinaccio, MS, RD, CPT, a registered dietitian nutritionist with Health Dynamics LLC. "Some kombucha bottles have 12 grams of added cane sugar. That's a whole tablespoon of sugar in a two-cup serving." Even worse is that because you think kombucha is a healthy drink, you may end up consuming it more frequently and in greater quantities than you would with, say, a soda that you already consider a treat.
Vitamin Water
While its name may sound healthy, Vitamin Water definitely doesn't get a seal of approval from dietitians.
"Vitamin Water has 120 calories in a bottle, all of which come from sugar—about the same amount as a 12-ounce can of Coke," says Marinaccio.
For more drinks you're better off avoiding, check out the 50 Unhealthiest Drinks on the Planet.
