Lose weight by drinking Healthier Beverages

Swapping out empty-calorie drinks for some healthier selections is one of the easiest ways to increase fat burning in the body.

"Beverages are probably the biggest hidden source of empty calories in our diets," says Mark Izzo, PhD, director of science and technology at Orafti Active Food Ingredients. "Even those that are positioned as super-healthy, like grapefruit juice and orange juice, can pack 100 calories in 8 ounces."

"What's worse," says Izzo, "is that nobody drinks only 8 ounces. A typical serving is usually 16 ounces. That's 200 calories for one drink!"

Then there's soda, which contributes few useful nutrients but plenty of calories in the form of sweeteners. A 20-ounce soda, for example, has the equivalent of 18 teaspoons of sugar.

For example, sugar-sweetened beverages like soda and juice are packed with calories and offer little nutritional value.

Soda is unquestionably among the many sources of excess calories contributing to the obesity epidemic in this country, says David L. Katz, MD, associate clinical professor of public health and medicine at Yale University School of Medicine and author of The Way to Eat.

"A standard 12-ounce (non-diet) soda has roughly 150 calories," says Katz. Drink two or three of those a day and that's enough calories to gain a pound a week! And just think what a supersized (44-ounce) drink can do -- just one a day can lead to an extra pound per week.

Further, the calories we drink are likely to be added to, rather than replaced by the calories we eat."

Also, Alcohol is also high in calories and has the added effect of lowering your inhibitions, making you more likely to overeat.

Researches have found that consuming both sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol is associated with a higher risk of belly fat.

Reducing your intake of these beverages can help reduce your calorie intake and keep your waistline in check.

As an alternative, you may opt for calorie-free beverages like water or green tea.

In one research, 12-week study, drinking 17 ounces (500 ml) of water before meals increased weight loss by 4.4 pounds (2 kg), compared to a control group.

Green tea is another great alternative. It contains caffeine and is rich in antioxidants, both of which may help increase fat burning and enhance metabolism in the body.

For example, one study in 12 adults showed that green tea extract increased fat burning by 12% compared to a placebo.

Trading in even just one or two servings of high-calorie beverages for a glass of water or a cup of green tea is a simple way to promote fat burning in the body.

Abstract

Mostly, sugar-sweetened beverages and alcoholic drinks may be related with a higher risk of body fat. Green tea and water have been shown to increase fat burning and weight loss in the body.