Stop and think before you drink sugary beverages — drink water instead
Five reasons to re-think your drink: The facts about sugary beverages
Imagine scooping 10 spoonfuls of sugar into your glass of water. Does that seem like a lot? That’s how much added sugar is in the average can of soda and many other sugary drinks.
Read on to find out why you should stop and think before you drink sugary beverages:
Energy crash: Sugary drinks cause a fast increase in blood sugar, followed by a blood sugar crash. When blood sugar crashes, you may feel cranky, sleepy, and hungry. Get off that blood sugar roller coaster.
Cravings for high-glycemic carbs: When sugary drinks put you on a blood sugar roller coaster and your blood sugar drops too low, you may crave more high-glycemic carbs. It can become a vicious cycle. Replace sugary drinks with water.
False advertising: Beverage companies use eye-catching packaging and hire celebrities and athletes to make their unhealthy drinks seem cool. They also use misleading labels to confuse kids and parents. Don't be tricked.
Too many calories: Sugary drinks have about 150 calories per 12-ounce can. It takes a lot of running or biking to burn that off. For example, to burn the calories in just one can (12 fluid ounces) of soda, you would have to run 1.75 miles, assuming that you burn about 85 calories per mile.
Tooth decay: When bacteria in your mouth react to sugar in a drink, acids are formed that can destroy the tooth enamel and cause decay, or cavities. Tooth decay can hurt and ruin your beautiful smile.
Why drink water?
Water is the ideal beverage for every age. It’s the best drink to satisfy your thirst, and it does much more than that. In fact, every cell, tissue, and organ in your body needs water — it’s good for your skin, your energy level, and even your brain.
Think you know all there is to know about water versus sugary drinks? See if you do by using our stop and think before you drink worksheet.