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Calories In Drinks: What You Need To Know

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I fondly remember a really good friend of mine, who would always be watching her weight. She emphatically stated that she didn’t want to drink her calories. Because alcohol is made from corn starch, it contains lots of calories-almost as many as pure fat at about 9 calories per gram. For her, there would be so much more gratification in eating her mother’s amazing homemade pasta.


So, while my friends and I would go out and consume many glasses of drinks (keeping in mind that alcohol turns into sugar = empty calories), my friend would have just as much fun with her tonic water and a lemon wedge. Eating was a totally different story. She enjoyed food, especially carbs, which interestingly also turns into sugar.

Is Drinking Sugar Worse Than Eating It?

Woman drinking soda

Beverages Can Have More Calories Than A Complete Meal

One of the major problems with drinking sugar as opposed to eating is that your brain doesn’t register them in the same way as the calories from solid foods.  The sugar in beverages is often highly concentrated and easy to consume in large amounts without feeling full, allowing for more intake. There are studies proving that drinking calories doesn’t give you that fullness signal that eating them gives. This will cause a greater appetite and calorie intake later on. So if you were to drink a glass of apple juice or eat a whole apple, you’d find the juice to be less filling and less satisfying than the whole apple.

Although fruit juice is typically considered a healthier option, even varieties without added sugar can be as high in sugar and calories as sweetened drinks and sodas — sometimes even higher.
However, when you are used to drinking sugar-sweetened beverages, plain water, which is the best choice, may just not work for you. An alternative may be as simple as adding a slice of lemon or lime to your water. Other choices may include iced black or green tea with lemon, herbal tea, or iced coffee with cream, most of which are delicious without any added sweetener.

Are Liquid Calories Easier To Burn Off?

Especially around holidays, there is an increase in drinking sugar, fat, and calories. Often, eating these foods can be comparable to having some desserts! While there is plenty of evidence that liquid calories are more potent fat-builders than calories we eat, there is no real data to confirm that liquid calories are any easier to burn off. We also know that when people ingest the liquid calories, they don’t compensate for them by reducing their solid caloric intake.


However, there are many studies showing that most people will see a greater result of weight loss by reducing/eliminating the liquid calories from their diet because it’s an easy way to get rid of non-satiating, nutrient-poor junk. Keeping in mind that not all liquid calories are equal. The calories that are in a can of soda are not the same as in (homemade NOT processed) soup. Thus, you should treat them differently. 

Drinking Calories For Bulking

high calorie junk food

A Dirty Bulk Includes Eating Extra High-Calorie Foods

There are two main types of muscle building diets – a clean bulk (also called lean bulking), and a dirty bulk. A dirty bulk typically involves eating a lot of extra calories from high-calorie foods to promote quick weight gain. A clean bulk uses a more moderate increase in calories in addition to healthier food choices.

Drinking calories for bulking can be a temporary solution as there is still high-calorie intake, but it’s certainly not ideal as we know that unless you are making high protein smoothies, the calories are empty. If chewing and/or swallowing is difficult, consider a creamy sweet potato and lentil soup. You can use an immersion blender if drinking as opposed to eating to bulk is important. Most importantly if you are planning to do a liquid bulk, make sure to include a nutritional supplement.

Why You Should Stick To Water

Woman runner drinking water.

Stay Hydrated With Water

As we stated above, it is best to get your calories through food as opposed to drinking. In general, we tend to get more beneficial calories and nutrients from eating food so it makes sense to have water with your meal. We know that our body needs water to replenish lost fluid from sweat. We also need enough water in our system to have healthy bowel movements and to avoid constipation. The kidneys are also important for filtering out waste through urination. We need enough intake to help our kidneys work more efficiently and to help prevent kidney stones.

A unique property of water is that it has the ability to dissolve a variety of chemical substances. Water is sometimes called the universal solvent since it dissolves the salt and other ionic compounds, as well as alcohols and acids. Drinking water without any other additives is also thirst-quenching, without the risk of tooth decay.

Benefits Of Drinking Water Explained

Here you will find the benefits of drinking water explained. Our bodies have about 60% of water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients and maintenance of body temperature.

Our bodies need water in order to sweat and remove urine and feces. The lack of water can cause the blood to become thicker, increasing blood pressure. When a person experiences dehydration, the body restricts airways to minimize water loss. So, we are always trying to maintain a healthy balance in keeping hydrated.

Because our blood is consists of 90% water and carries necessary oxygen throughout the body, it’s important to stay well hydrated throughout the day.

Conclusion 

We probably take water and its properties for granted, since it is so common. But it’s essential in keeping us alive and well. It’s important in carrying oxygen through the blood to the areas of the body. It is necessary for filtering out our body’s waste through urine and feces. Overall, it’s best to have a nutritional balance that includes both food (along with water) to properly have a healthy diet.