Ah, caffeine! Many of us can’t get through the day without it. Whether you start your day with a hot cup off coffee every morning or need a bit of a kick to keep your energy up towards the end of the work day, there’s nothing wrong with a bit of a boost. However, it’s important to choose your beverages wisely if you want to keep your health in order. As it turns out, there are a few caffeinated beverages that can do some serious damage to your body over time.
To get down to the bottom of things and learn more about some of the worst options you should skip next time you’re at the grocery store, we spoke to certified nutritionist and personal trainer Josh Schlottman along with Trista Best, registered dietitian for Balance One Supplements. They told us energy drinks and processed coffee beverages are two you should kick to the curb if you care about your health.
Energy Drinks
We could all use a caffeine boost from time to time, and for those of us who prefer a bit of a fruity flavor to bitter coffee, energy drinks may seem like a tastier alternative. However, that sweet flavor comes from an astonishing amount of sugar and other sweeteners. Best warns that "the average sugar content of an energy drink is 54 grams, an alarming rate that can cause weight gain and poor digestive health." All of that sweet stuff is also highly inflammatory and can result in serious health risks, including complications like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and even cancer. "The more inflammation in our body, the higher the risk is that we exhibit one of these ailments," she says. Say it ain't so! Guess we'll have to work on kicking our Red Bull habit from now on.
Pre-Packaged Coffee Drinks
If you're frequently on the go, don't want to brew your own coffee at home, and don't have the time to stand in line at a coffee shop, you may frequently opt for bottled coffee drinks from the grocery store. However, what these drinks save you in time, you'll likely pay for in health consequences. This is thanks to their high sugar content and processed, fattening ingredients like syrups, flavorings, and creams. "Many of these drinks can keep you from losing weight and may actually be causing you to pack on the pounds," Schlottmann says. "High sugar content is going to be the most concerning ingredient in these processed coffee drinks," he warns, noting that it can "cause an insulin release, and put your body into fat-storage-promoting mode."
So, what should you drink for that burst of energy you need to take on the morning or get through your afternoon slump? Black coffee is always a great option. Additionally, green tea is packed with antioxidants that can do wonders for your overall health. The bottom line is that you should steer clear of processed, sugary drinks as much as possible. You may be surprised what a difference it makes!
