The secret to losing weight isn’t just watching what’s on your plate; it’s also about watching what’s in your glass. Popular soft drinks, fruit juices, and energy drinks can be loaded with added sugars and carbohydrates that can sabotage your weight-loss strategy. Here are five tasty ways to drink up without packing on the pounds.
1. Water
We all know this one, but it’s important to remember that water is the single best choice for effective weight loss. Whether it’s still or sparkling, aim to make water your go-to beverage choice. Think water is boring? Try adding fresh lemon slices, lime, cucumber, and even a slice of tomato to add flavor without adding many calories.
2. Vegetable juice
Whether in a can, bottled, or homemade, vegetable juice is an excellent way to get the fiber and nutrients your body needs to fuel your weight loss. If you can find a low-sodium variety, even better. The veggies will keep you fuller longer and the tangy flavor will keep your taste buds happy.
3. Unsweetened tea
Green tea has been proven to help boost metabolism and speed up weight loss. Try it hot or iced with a bit of honey for a low-sugar sweet drink. Don’t forget black and oolong teas, too! Both are filled with antioxidants, which can help rid your body of toxins.
4. Black coffee
A morning cup of joe or an afternoon iced coffee can help spur your weight loss by providing a boost of caffeine that suppresses hunger. Also, coffee has been shown to stimulate thermogenesis, which heats up the body and boosts metabolism. Just be careful about what you add to your coffee — stick to skim milk and very little sugar.
5. Skim milk
Milk is an excellent source of lean protein, vitamin D, and calcium that can help build your muscles and keep your bones strong. Opt for low-fat or skim milk for all of the vitamins without the added fat. If you are feeling indulgent, add a little chocolate — low-fat chocolate milk is a great option for post-workout muscle recovery
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7 No Calorie, All-Natural Drinks
Keep hydrated and satisfied with these naturally flavored beverages. No need to calculate calories on any of them!
Non-Sparkling
Honest Tea Just Black Tea or Just Green Tea
These perfectly balanced brews will make you appreciate the subtle flavors in unsweetened teas. They also have a line of “just a tad sweet” drinks.
Hint Essence Water
Try these 10 delicious varieties of zero calorie waters, including creative flavors like cucumber, honeydew-hibiscus, and pear.
Starbucks Iced Tea
Starbucks iced teas are perfect no-calorie options. You can get any tea flavor iced at Starbucks if you’re willing to wait for it to be brewed. Try the minty Refresh tea, tongue-tingling Passion or their peppery Chai. Buy their tea fliterbags and keep a pitcher of this treat in your fridge at all times.
Sparkling
Pellegrino
Pellegrino is the champagne of sparkling mineral waters. The bubbles are so tiny that this liquid can be gulped to quench a really big thirst. An 8-ounce serving also has 4% of your daily needs for calcium. The flavor is much less bitter than a typical unflavored seltzer, though a squeeze of lime is an excellent addition.
Poland Spring Sparkling
With bracing bubbles and absolutely delicious flavors you won’t miss soda at all. Our favorite is is raspberry-lime, with a fresh berry flavor and a hint of lime; other standouts are lemon, lime, and mandarin orange.
Perrier
This classic sparkling water comes from a spring in the south of France. Available in both lemon and lime flavor, we think the lime is more natural tasting than the lemon, though both are refreshing.
Polar Seltzer
Polar seltzers are the best of the aluminum can varieties. The natural flavors are subtle and the bubbles are small. Creative flavors include pomegranate, vanilla, blueberry and Georgia peach
-Meaghan Cameron
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