We all know that water is good for us – it’s the best hydrator and thirst quencher, and assists us in losing bodyfat…but if you’re like most people, the temptation for tasty, interesting and fun beverages simply overwhelms the commitment to drink plain water – especially within a social context!…But there is price to pay for these tempting tastebud-teasers – they contain loads of kilojoules!...even the more healthy ones – such as fruit juice and milk….and obviously, the not-so-healthy ones – beer, cocktails and shooters – all of these are extremely kilojoule- dense!
Consider the following: 2 glasses of wine translates roughly into 922.5 kilojoules (410 calories) – which means you would probably have to do about one-and-a-half to two- hours worth of moderate cardiovascular exercise to burn off those excess kilojoules…It’s hardly worth setting yourself back too many times in one week!
Since there is no difference between a kilojoule from liquid and a kilojoule from food – tis best to keep tabs on how many (unnecessary) kilojoules you may be drinking if you wish to reduce bodyfat…
Keep the following pointers in mind:
Restrict or eliminate alcohol – especially if you want to be rid of that “beer boep”. Alcohol seems not only to cause excess fat storage, but also appears to decrease fat metabolism. A study published in the journal of Advanced Nutrition and Human Metabolism found that bodyfat accumulates more in those tissues where alcohol is metabolised. Another recent study showed that alcohol consumers had two to three times the number of abdominal fat deposits when compared to non-alcoholic drinkers… So let’s replace that 6-pack in the fridge with a lean 6-pack washboard midriff!
Switch from full cream milk to low-fat (2 percent) or, even better, fat-free (skim) milk.
Fruit juice contains a lot more nutrition than regular fizzy drinks, but it’s just as kilojoule-laden…So eat one piece of fruit and drink a glass of water - instead of drinking a whole glass of fruit juice, which contains many pieces of fruit – and many kilojoules. Diluting juices with plain or sparkling water can also reduce the kilojoule-density of each glass.
Watch out for those “sneakies” – a tasty coffee concoction from your favourite restaurant is usually nothing more than a dressed-up milkshake! – So opt for a “Skinny” Cappuccino instead. Also, double-check that your post-workout fresh protein smoothie from your local health bar is really made from skim milk or water – not from full cream milk! (Ouch!)
Water is still the best drink when it comes to satisfying thirst and since it contains no kilojoules, it is the best drink to have when striving to cut fat…If you really dislike the taste, add a twist of lemon or lime, or for a change, drink a sparkling water instead.
Beverage
Serving size
Average kilojoules*
Average calories*
Water
250mls
0
0
Coffee or tea (black, no sugar)
250mls
8.5
2
Milk, Full Cream
250mls
620.5
146
Milk, Low Fat 2%
250mls
518.5
122
Milk, Fatfree or Skim
250mls
365.5
86
Fruit Juice
250mls
569.5
134
Fizzy Drink
375mls
646
152
Diet Fizzy Drink with aspartame
375mls
0
0
Iced tea, ready to drink
375mls
544
128
Regular beer
375mls
663
156
Light beer
375mls
459
108
White Wine
250mls
722.5
170
Red Wine
250mls
892.5
210
Source:
USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, 2005
*Since the actual kilojoule content may vary significantly from brand to brand, the average kilojoule content was used.
Friday, 03 September 2010
