The diet is in the drink

Be careful with what you drink as it can be just as important or even more so than food in terms of dieting and maintaining your ideal weight.   When we diet, we usually think more about food than about drinks in terms of caloric products that can derail our efforts. Typically, it's bread, chocolate, and ice cream that tempt us, but we also don’t consider that we can consume equal or more calories through liquids. Of course, we know that sodas are fattening, as well as sweet alternatives like milkshakes, but it’s not just that. An example to be cautious with is fruit juice. Depending on which fruit you choose and how diluted it is with water, it can contain a high level of fructose, which is great for energy at the start of the day but perhaps not so suitable for drinking during meals. Water or juices like orange, strawberry, and even pineapple and mango can contain pure sugars, as in their solid fruit state they combine that sweet element with vitamins and fiber, but in liquid form, they are not as balanced. Probably the most suitable fruit to drink is lemon since its sugar level is very low and its vitamin C attributes are very high. Speaking of tea, we can consider all those that come from dried fruits and organic herbs as low in calories. The problem lies with pre-made iced teas as they use artificial sweeteners along with preservatives that increase the caloric count of this drink. If tea is your preferred beverage, then choose green or black tea that you prepare at home; it is much richer, more nutritious, and doesn’t add any calories. The difference in numbers is this: a homemade tea can have up to four calories max, while bottled ones can have 140. Another popular choice is coffee, and there’s no problem with that. Coffee alone is quite light as it contains no more than 2 calories per cup. The issue arises when you add cream, which raises it to 50, and adding sugar increases it even more. In fact, even if you add skim or light milk, it still alters a drink that in its natural form is not caloric at all. Similarly, you can order coffees from major chains in a light option, but the minimum calories one can have is 180 if you order it with milk, so be careful with your orders. Finally, remember that it's okay to indulge every now and then, just be mindful of what you are drinking. If we warn you that sherry, dark beer, punch, cocktails like White Russian or margaritas are extremely caloric, then keep those in mind unless it’s a holiday or, of course, a special occasion.   Diet Drink Recipes Mint Tea Recipe - 4 cups of water - 10 fresh mint leaves - 1 teaspoon of sugar substitute Click here to see how to prepare this recipe.   Coffee with Milk Recipe Ingredients: - 10 teaspoons of instant coffee or to taste - 4 cups of water - 4 cups of milk - sugar to taste Find the steps to prepare this recipe by clicking here.   Did you know the importance of drinks in the diet?