It’s probably because of the ease of consuming larger quantities of the liquid more easily, but a recent study of 810 adults from around the United States found that soft drinks, sodas, fruit punches etc. had a much stronger impact on weight gain than even solid food:
“Among beverages, sugar-sweetened beverages was the only beverage type significantly associated with weight change at both the 6- and 18-month follow up periods,” said Dr. Liwei Chen, lead author of the study and an epidemiologist at Louisiana State University’s School of Public Health. [MSNBC Health]
She actually makes a public recommendation to reduce the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages and other high-calorie-liquids. Among the interesting results observed during the study was the fact that reducing just one calorie of liquid resulted in a loss of 0.55 lb at 6 months and 0.52 lb at 18 months.
Today, it’s amazing to see how pervasive the liquid calorie really is. From things like green-tea to even plain old water (it’s now apparently “fitness water” and needs a glucose infusion!), added sugar is everywhere you turn. If the results of this study are indeed true, then this is causing us way more harm than any minor benefit of “fueling us for our workouts” could bring.
In fact, I have read on a fitess and exercise website recently, that the only liquid you should be consuming is plain old water. Anything else these days and you are just setting yourslef up for a high-calorie, low-benefit and many times harmful experience down the road!
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I am constantly amazed at the number of calories in soda pop.
I drink a coke a day and do not really think twice about it but you know how they say there are 12 teaspoons of sugar in one can? I did the math and that is in fact true.