Be a Healthier You

Do you take sugar in your tea or coffee?? You could be consuming anywhere up to 500 kcal extra EVERY DAY!!

2 teaspoons of sugar is equivalent to 47kcal, and so if you are drinking five coffees a day you’re looking at an indulgence of 250kcals. The equivalent of a bowl of cereal with milk, or 1 banana, 2 apples, and 2 oranges!!!

Additionally, if you take milk ensure you are buying semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, and not whole. Whole milk is only recommended for toddlers who need a higher fat diet. All the calcium found in milk is contained within the water part and so removing the cream will not affect the calcium levels!

And if you only drink soft drinks don’t think you’re off the hook…

While diet sodas may contain a low or no sugar content, research has shown that the sweeteners used to replace sugar only serve to retain your sweet tooth. Try to reduce your intake slowly, rather than going cold turkey. As with many addictive substances trying to quit overnight can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and sugar cravings.

What about fruit juice, though? That’s healthy, isn’t it?

Many of the cartons of juice you buy in your local supermarket contain hidden sugars. Always read the packaging, if it says ‘juice drink’ then expect to see added sugars in the ingredients list.

Well, I only drink flavoured water…

And rather than spending money buying flavoured water, which also contain sweeteners (and often added sugar), why not try adding a few slices of lemon or some berries to your water bottle.

I know alcohol’s bad, but everything in moderation, right?

Did you know that alcohol contains almost as many calories per gram as fat, and almost twice the calories of carbohydrates and protein.

Two bottles of beer contain as many calories as a sirloin steak…

And one pint of cider is equivalent to eating a sugary doughnut!

A glass of red wine definitely has some health benefits, but so does 1 piece of dark chocolate, and you wouldn’t eat a whole sharing size block, would you? Yet many of us are happy to guzzle down up to 3 bottles over the weekend. One large glass of red wine contains 175kcal, equivalent to two low-fat yogurts or a small bar of chocolate. WOW!

Any eye-openers in there??

There are definitely ways to reach your 6-8 glasses of water per day, without having to drink it in its purest form. So have some fun experimenting with ways to make water tastier without adding excessive levels of sugar or sweeteners!

Try to make the healthiest choices, particularly when you know you will be drinking larger quantities than usual. Replace sugar-laden cider or beer with white spirits. and replace soda with fruit juice.

There are lots of small ways you can make big differences to what you drink, and they don’t have to be expensive or boring!

Have fun experimenting, and feel free to share this article with friends and family.

Coming soon: Food myths debunked