After the Christmas period, are you looking to lose weight? Well new evidence suggests that you should ditch diet drinks!
An extensive review of research conducted over the last 30 years has found that low calorie, sugar-free drinks do not help people get skinnier — and can even cause some to pack on the pounds.
The report which was published in the journal PLOS One, outlines dozens of studies that have taken place over the past 3 decades about artificially sweetened beverages — and cites the many reasons why those who want to lose weight should avoid them and stick with water.
There have been concerns that diet drinks, known as artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs), might lead people to consume more calories by stimulating sweet flavour taste buds. The new study found that evidence relating to the healthiness of ASBs was inconclusive with randomised controlled trials (RCTs) producing mixed results.
At Healthy Performance, we advocate that water is the best drink to choose, for health and the environment (up to a staggering 300 litres of water is required to produce a single half-litre plastic fizzy soft drink bottle!). However for many people who are used to drinking sugary drinks, this will be too hard a change to make. Artificially sweetened drinks are a step in the right direction to cut calories but water is always the best choice!
HP tips to help you stay hydrated:
- When you wake up in the morning you will be dehydrated, try and get into a routine of drinking a glass of water or squash before any other drinks.
- Carry a bottle or water with you or have a glass on your desk – if it is in sight you are more likely to drink it
- Have a glass of water with each meal
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables as they contain water
- If you are in a hot environment or an exercising environment make sure you drink extra fluid