Drink Your Way...

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To Losing Extra Weight

Are you struggling to lose those last stubborn pounds? When you’re trying to lose weight small changes in eating and exercise habits can make a significant difference over time. One area that many people fail to address when it comes to weight loss is what they drink.

Those sugary sweet soft drinks can really add up at 160 calories a pop. By the time you’ve downed four or five cans of cola in a day, you’ve added a half day’s calories. If you’re in the habit of drinking drinks with added sugar and large quantities of fruit juice, it’s time to make some changes. Here’s what to drink for weight loss.


Water

It sounds basic but most people don’t drink enough water when they’re dieting. Drinking water prevents dehydration. When you’re dehydrated and thirsty your body may send the signal that you’re hungry when all you really need is water. This leads to overeating and consumption of excess calories. The verdict is still out as to whether drinking water suppresses the appetite. We do know that when you eat foods with a high water content such as soup or salad, you tend to eat less at a meal. The bottom line is drink more water. If you don’t like the taste add a few squeezes of lime or lemon to make it more palatable.

Green tea

If there’s one drink you should drink for weight loss, its green tea. Preliminary studies have shown that mice given green tea extract with their food gained less weight and body fat. This was published in the Journal of Nutrition in February 2008. One of the most effective strategies is to sip a cup of green tea throughout the day to keep blood levels of green tea catechins constant. This should give a small boost to your metabolism that over time can result in weight loss. It’s also a great drink to sip on at the gym between exercise sets.

Oolong tea

Oolong tea is a less fermented version of black tea so it retains more of the catechins and other health phytonutrients that black tea lacks. A small human study showed that oolong tea appears to increase fat oxidation and promote weight loss. In fact, it’s effectiveness as a weight loss promoter has earned it the nickname of “the weight loss tea”. Although oolong tea does contain caffeine, the fat burning effect seems to be independent of the caffeine content. Alternating oolong tea with green tea is an effective way to benefit from what each tea has to offer.


Coffee

Coffee contains caffeine which not only revs up the metabolism but helps to curb hunger. Adding a few cups of coffee to your daily routine can give you the energy boost needed to work out at a higher intensity. Of course those high calorie Starbuck coffee drinks are probably going to do more harm than good. Try drinking your coffee with a little calorie free sweetener and avoid the frappuccinos with whipped cream.

Why not eliminate those high calorie, sugar laden drinks and learn to drink for weight loss? Don’t be surprised if your pants start to feel looser in a few weeks.

By Dr. Kristie