When it comes to a healthy diet, we tend to only think about the foods we eat and how much we consume. However, we should not forget that what we drink also plays an important role.
Here are a few tips to help us improve our drinking habits:
• Fruit juice and fruit beverages: These drinks should be limited in your diet, as many can have high amounts of sugar and provide additional calories. Opt for eating whole fruits instead, as they provide benefits including fiber and other important nutrients that are not found in juice.
• Sports drinks: Following a workout, we often reach for a sports drink to quench our thirst. However, these drinks are intended for individuals who exercise heavily and sweat a lot. It is important to remember that these drinks also introduce additional calories into your overall diet. Water is a great way to stay hydrated when exercising, as not everyone needs a sports drink to replenish post workout. Talk to your doctor or dietitian to see if using a sports drink would be beneficial for you based on your level of activity.
• Coffee: For those of us who need a caffeine pick-me-up now and then, we need to be careful about how we sweeten these beverages and remember that what we add counts. Try swapping cream or whole milk with low-fat milk instead.
