To A Healthy You!

 

Soda and most juices are some of the worst beverages that you could be drinking for your health. Most sodas and juices contain a high amount of simple sugars. The USDA recommendation of sugar –consumption for a 2,000-calorie diet is a daily allotment of 10 teaspoons of added sugars. Most people get that in one 12.oz.cola (9 ½ tsp. of sugar) or 12 oz. of orange juice (9tsp. of sugar). These sugary beverages cause us to take in excess calories, which in turn cause our bodies to store more fat. More fat stored leads to weight gain, obesity and serious health problems such as diabetes, certain cancers and heart disease, to name a few. Who would think that sugary drinks can cause such harm? I have good news to share, we can all make smart changes that are Free or low cost.

 

Here are a few changes that you and your family can make.

 

1. Drink plenty of water.

•  Nothing quenches thirst better than water. 
• Water is naturally sugar -free and calorie- free. 
• You can add a slice of orange, lemon, or cucumber for almost no calories and lots of flavor. 
• We are blessed in this nation to have safe drinking water. 
• Don’t take this blessing for granted.(other countries are not as fortunate, many die from polluted water
• Sources). 

 

2. Switch from juice to whole fruit.

 

• Most kids (and adults) get too much juice and too little fruit. 
• Fruit juice isn’t as healthful as most people think. It’s loaded with calories. 
• Compare the calories of a 12oz.Cola to your favorite 12oz.juice (you will be Surprised to find out which has more calories). 
• More importantly, Whole fruit has fewer calories, and unlike juice, it has fiber. FiberHelps keep you healthy. It also helps you feel full. 1 medium sized apple has 60 calories and 3 grams. of Fiber. 1 cup (8oz.) of apple juice has 110 calories, NO Fiber and doesn’t fill you up. 
• Don’t waste money on punch and fruit –flavored drinks. These are just flavored sugar water.

REMEMBER: one small change will make a big difference. If the only change you make is drinking one less 20 ounce soda per day for a year, you will eliminate 91,250 calories--- which is the number of calories in 26 pounds of body fat.

 

Brought to you by St. Sylvester's Parish Nurse.