Rethink your drink
28 February 2013
Would you add 16 teaspoons of sugar to your lunchtime salad? Or
sprinkle it on top of your steak at dinner? Would you eat 16
teaspoons of sugar because you are little bit thirsty?
Of course you wouldn't! But every time you drink a 600ml bottle of
soft drink that is exactly what you're doing, with a
whopping 64 grams of sugar - or about 16 teaspoons - in
every bottle.
Australians are one of the highest consumers of soft drink in the
world - and it's making us fat! One can of soft drink per day can
contribute to a 6.75kg weight gain over one year. So this year,
swap the soft drink for water and achieve a healthier U.
What about diet soft drink?
For almost every regular soft drink there is a diet option. Diet
soft drinks use artificial sweeteners to replace sugar and
therefore have virtually zero kilojoules. Sounds like a perfect
alternative doesn't it? Unfortunately it's not. Studies have shown
that consumption of diet soft drinks may actually lead to weight
gain. Interestingly, it appears that consuming artificially
sweetened foods may actually increase our consumption of other
foods throughout the day. Frequently consuming sweet foods and
drinks - whether they are artificially sweetened or not - trains
our brains to crave sweet foods which further contribute to weight
gain.
Soft drinks and teeth
If you still need another reason to rethink your drink, consider
your teeth. The consumption of the equivalent of one can of soft
drink per day increases tooth decay. Additionally, most soft drinks
and sports drinks contain acids that can soften tooth enamel
leaving them vulnerable to decay.
Rethink Sugary Drinks
So what's the answer? Rethink those sugary drinks. Swap
naturally and artificially sweetened drinks for healthier
alternatives like water or low fat milk. Carry a water bottle with
you wherever you go and keep cold water in the fridge for an easy
refreshing drink. For more ideas and information on our campaign
visit rethinksugarydrink.org.au. 