Sugary beverages are drinks sweetened with added sugars. Some examples include soda, fruit drinks, sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened coffee, or sweetened tea.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 12 teaspoons of added sugar per day. Some sugary beverages can have as many as 20 teaspoons of added sugar!
Drinking too many sugary beverages can contribute to health problems, such as tooth decay, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.
Drinking too many sugary beverages can also spoil our appetite to eat healthy foods.
Practical tips:
Avoid stocking the fridge with sugar-sweetened beverages. Instead, keep a jug of fresh water in the fridge.
Add flavor to water with herbs and sliced fruit, such as basil with berries, or mint with lemon and cucumber.
Try sparkling water if you like fizzy drinks.
Carry a water bottle with you and refill it throughout the day.
Consider other beverages that contain more nutrients, such as plain milk, milk alternatives, or 100% fruit or vegetable juice.
Try This
Next time you have a sugary beverage, read the nutrition label to discover how much sugar you are drinking. Divide the number on the label by four to find the teaspoons of sugar.
Rethink Your Drink
Do you know much sugar you drink per week? Per month? Per year? This video is an eye-opener!
