Have you made a resolution to tidy up your diet this year? Have you included switching to more “diet” drinks instead of full calories drinks? Here is an article that may make you think twice. Water is always the best option! (Source: SCW Fitness Newsletter 5/1/08 www.scwfitness.com)

“Instructors all over the country are being surprised with this question lately. A study from the University of Texas Health Center seems to show that drinking diet beverages is linked to being obese. Researchers acknowledge that other factors may be affecting results, but they are standing by their facts. The risk of being overweight increased by 41% even for the group who only averaged 1 can of the beverages a day.

It seems that the real surprise was not the link to being overweight, but that the risk of being over weight was HIGHER for diet soda drinkers than regular soda drinkers. Psychological factors may play a role here. Dieters, having a deprivation mentality, may choose a diet beverage and feel entitled to fries or dessert. That’s an interesting possibility.

Doctors and nutritionists advise that we not “drink” our calories. Pediatricians in particular warn against over “juicing” children and recommend reducing milk intake after the age of 2. Even these beverages, with their health benefits, are high in calories, carbohydrates, and sugar. Fructose and Lactose are still “sugar” and carry with them quite a few calories. But diet drinks are supposed to be calorie free?

This study and others like it find that the body’s expectation of calories due to the sweet taste of the beverages probably stimulates a hunger response. Suppressing that particular response would be preferred by dieters. Some even argue that the insulin reaction may actually begin when food or drink is placed on the tongue. This could mean that drinking a diet cola would cause insulin to be sent into the bloodstream only to have nothing upon which to act. When this occurs, the body attempts to store fat. Again, every dieter’s nightmare!

In an effort to adjust this “drinking” problem, one should consider other ways to fix a sweet tooth. Nuts, berries, and yogurt with fruit are all good options. Nutritional snacks with more flavor can induce satiety and provide vitamins and minerals. They are also easily paired with bottled or filtered water. H2O, after all, is the only beverage consumed universally in the animal kingdom. Other mammals discontinue the drinking of milk after infancy. No responsible pet owner gives Fido juice in his bowl. It’s time to resign ourselves to water only…at least most of the time.

Sports drinks and flavored water beverages are all the rage as well. While not specifically addressed in recent studies, it is reasonable to assume that the results would be similar. Beverages geared toward athletes were developed to reduce electrolyte loss and therefore cramping during intense bouts of exercise in extreme conditions over long periods of time. Most casual exercisers are not in need of electrolyte supplementation.

Ultimately, what exercisers drink is personal. Water is, of course, best. Other beverages should be consumed in moderation with careful consideration to calorie and salt content. This, too, becomes a choice between what we need and what we want. The choice is yours, now you know!”