Rethink Your Drink

Sometimes we do things out of habit and we don't really stop to think about it. Like ordering a diet coke with a sandwich. Or Redbull with vodka. All-the-time.

I know a number of people who've tried everything to lose weight - from going on low-carb diets, low-fat diets, cabbage soup diets or blood type diets, to name a few. Somehow they don't realize just how many calories beverages can contribute to their daily diet. Most people try to reduce their calorie intake by focusing on food. Not so easy. Drinks contain calories too and can really add up to your daily calorie intake.

Ever wondered how much sugar is in your favorite energy drink?

 Fact: You'd rather drink a Mountain Dew than eat a cake. But not until you realize how much sugar is in a bottle!

Your favorite beverages can add up to more than 1000 calories to your daily diet.

 Here's a better picture:

Drink water or satisfy your sugar cravings with a fruit or natural peanut butter instead!

How do you calculate how much sugar is in your drink?

grams of sugar (g) ÷ 4 = teaspoons of sugar

40 grams ÷ 4 = 10 teaspoons

Sometimes food companies market their products in the best possible light but sometimes the information can be vague or misleading. So watch out if it's more than 1 serving per container. Calculate by

Multiplying: teaspoons of sugar per serving (x) number of servings = teaspoons of sugar per container

(Example: 2 servings per container: 10 teaspoons x 2 servings = 20 teaspoons per container) *gasp!*

Rethink your drink!

(hat tip: http://www.cdph.ca.gov)