Unfortunately, drinks don’t do much to curb appetites since the brain doesn’t seem to register the calories from beverages the way it does from food. Drink size is also a problem. In the last few decades, the average beverage size has increased dramatically. Not to mention that most popular drinks usually have a ton of sugar in them. The average soft drink has ballooned from 13 ounces to nearly 20 ounces. One 12-ounce can of regular soda contains about 150 calories. Sure, that doesn’t seem like much. But an extra 150 calories a day can pack on 15 pounds a year. And who’s stopping with one can? Restaurants and quick marts offer cups as large as 32 ounces - often with free refills. Kick back one Big Gulp (32 ounces) and you’re chugging 400 or more calories without a second thought.

Coffee and tea (in their natural state) are calorie-free. In fact, recent studies suggest that they may actually be good for you. Coffee may act as a mild antidepressant and protect against type-2 diabetes. And a cup of tea offers antioxidants and disease-fighting chemicals you can’t find elsewhere. Green tea especially has some exceptional health benefits. University of Purdue researchers recently concluded that a compound in green tea inhibits the growth of cancer cells. There is also research indicating that drinking green tea lowers total cholesterol levels, as well as improving the ratio of good (HDL) cholesterol to bad (LDL) cholesterol. But dress those tea and coffee beverages up with high calorie syrup, sugary flavorings and whipped cream and all bets are off. In fact, some specialty drinks can climb to 500 calories and beyond. Drink several of those each day, and your coffee and tea habit could tip the scales out of your favor.?

If you do drink coffee and/or tea, try to begin limiting your use of cream and sugar. If you can’t stand not using some sort of sweetener, try Stevia. Stevia is a natural herb that is up to 300 times sweeter than sugar, does not affect blood sugar levels, and has no calories.??

An occasional glass of wine or beer won’t toss your diet out the window. But at 70-150 calories a drink (more for mixed cocktails and specialty drinks), regular consumption can undo your calorie count as well as your restraint. Those calories add up fast. Try alternating alcoholic drinks with zero-calorie or low-calorie beverages. Or better yet, abstain from alcohol altogether. Sip on club soda with a twist of lime.

Since 60% of your body weight is water and every cell in your body relies on water to function properly, drinking lots of water is essential. There’s no better way to stay hydrated than to down this all-natural, zero-calorie drink: bottled, tap, or flavored water. Try to replace most of your daily drinks with water. Spritz it up with lemon or a twist of lime if you like, but drink at least 8 glasses of water each and every day. It’s important for your cells to stay hydrated and nourished. Water will do that and much more. So drink up!

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