Healthy beverage choices
There are so many new waters, sports drinks, fruit sodas and new age teas on the market today. Making a healthy and refreshing choice can be confusing – so here are some good tips to keep in mind.
Sweet can mean lots of calories
Most soft drinks, iced tea, lemonade and fruit beverages are a combination of water, sugar, colourings, flavouring agents and preservatives. While they may taste great, you may be surprised at how much sugar is added to pre-sweetened beverages.
Check the Nutrition Facts Table for the amount of sugars listed. Every 4 grams of sugar represent a teaspoon of sugar that has been added to the product. That means a 12-ounce (355 mL) can of regular pop, lemonade or tea contains 41 or 42 grams of sugar, or the equivalent of 10 teaspoons in a single can!
And if you're at the movies or at a favourite fast food place, choosing the extra-large drink size can mean even worse news. One 32-ounce soft drink contains about 25 teaspoons of sugar and 400 calories – it's such a large part of your daily calorie intake, it's almost a meal in itself!
Delicious drinks that are good choices anytime
Choosing an artificially sweetened diet soft drink or unsweetened iced tea is usually a better bet than regular pop if you're concerned about calories or carbs. Healthier still is mineral water, spring water, seltzer water or sparkling water. They're calorie free and don't contain any artificial colours or sweeteners.
If plain water doesn't excite you, try those with a hint of fruit flavour or fruit essence. They aren't sweet, but give your taste buds a little more to celebrate. You can make your own by squeezing a few wedges of lemon, lime or orange into your water bottle for your next hike, or adding a NESTEA Sachet.
If your hike or physical activity lasts longer than 90 minutes, a sports drink can be beneficial. They provide carbohydrates for energy and electrolytes (minerals) that are often lost with excessive sweating.
Inexpensive and healthy green tea
If the most physical activity you have planned is swinging in a hammock, but you still want a great-tasting and healthy summer thirst quencher, brew a batch of your own iced tea. Regular tea bags or green tea bags are rich in antioxidants – natural chemicals that protect cells from damage that leads to cancer and heart disease.
Sweeten your homemade tea with a few teaspoons of sugar or a drizzle of honey for added flavour – you can control exactly the amount you want, and it's sure to be less than the 10 to 12 teaspoons of sugar in most pre-sweetened brands.
