Thirsty? Put down the soda and pick up the water

Thirsty? Put down the soda and pick up the water


Drinking just one glass of water instead of a sugar-laden beverage every day may help you lose weight and improve your health, suggests a study by researchers from Virginia Tech and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The results are published in the journal Nutrients.

The team reviewed the dietary intake among U.S. adults age 19 and older, as reported in the 2007-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Studies.

No more than 10 percent of your daily calories should come from added sugar, according to the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Just one sugar-sweetened beverage could be 17 percent of your daily intake, the team noted. If you drink a glass of water instead, your daily caloric intake from sugar can drop to 11 percent. And the more sweet drinks you avoid, the bigger the benefits.

An earlier study by Virginia Tech researchers suggests that lower-calorie beverages are linked to healthier diets in general. Specifically, those who drink water or unsweetened coffee or tea are more likely to choose lean meats and fish, whole grains, fruits and vegetables. In contrast, researchers noted that higher-calorie beverages were associated with diets heavy in red and processed meat, refined grains, sweets and starch.

A diet high in sugary drinks has been linked to increased risk of obesity, Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

So when your sweet tooth tempts you to reach for a soda or an energy drink, resist the urge and grab a glass of water instead. Your heart — and your waistline — will thank you.

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