No matter where you live in the Country, there are record-high temperatures. Folks, Global warming is real, here in Ohio if the weather forecast is correct, this week we will set a record 3 days for the highest temperature. Indeed, it is more important than ever to stay hydrated. However, be careful what you drink, there are so many choices on the market these days, each one proclaiming to be the best.
I will share with you today some drinks you may think were healthy, as they advertise, but you may be very surprised about the bottom line.
How many of you have paid for a bottle of Vitaminwater Multi-V? Water full of vitamins, or is it? A 20 oz bottle contains 125 calories, 0 fat, and 33 grams of sugar. A Snickers bar only has 27 grams of sugar, if I had a choice, it would be the Snickers. If you must spend your money to buy water, you may want to opt for Vitaminwaters zero calorie line.
It has been 15 years since I drank a soda, or pop depending on what region of the Country you reside, but it is slurped down in large quantities during the summer months. It is served at every picnic, BBQ, pool party, pig roast, and other occasions. As well it is a staple in many households. When I was a pop drinker, one of my favorites was Sunkist Orange. A can of it has 190 calories, zero fat, and 50 grams of sugar. You may want to consider a sparkling soda option.
Before you choose a bottle of green tea, please read the label. All green teas are not created equal. If you see a bottle of SoBe Energize green tea, leave it on the shelf. A 20 oz. bottle contains 240 calories, zero fat, and 61 grams of sugar. No doubt you would be energized after drinking all that sugar.
For those of you with Orange Julius restaurants in your area, you may have ordered the Lemon Orange Julius. A medium which is 20 oz. has 360 calories, zero fat, and 94 grams of sugar. You could drink more than 15 20 oz. cups of straight lemon juice and never reach the amount of sugar in the Orange Julius.
The kids are home for the summer and Dairy Queen is one of the places they will want to go. The Caramel Moo Latte frozen coffee drink has 660 calories, 19 grams of fat, and 90 grams of sugar. That is almost the same number of calories as 5 White Castle Sliders.
Smoothie King The Activator Strawberry sounds like a high-energy fruit booster, but that’s far from the real deal. This smoothie contains 834 calories, 1.5 g of fat, and 134 grams of sugar. It does have 30 grams of protein but that doesn’t make up for all the calories.
Who doesn’t like a good milkshake? Cold Stone Creamery has an Old Fudge! shake, the small one (16oz.) has 1250 calories, 70 grams of fat, and 127 grams of sugar.
There it is, the good, bad, and the ugly, you may want to choose a healthier drink, or at the very least read the label to be informed of the nutritional facts.
I encourage you to stay hydrated with water, the 8-10 glasses of water theory isn’t for everyone. The amount of water you require depends on your weight, fat content, and other factors. I stay hydrated with lemon water; I have a glass Kool-Aid pitcher that I keep in my fridge. I slice 2 lemons, add water, and it’s ready to drink.
A few weeks ago, I wrote a Blog about lemons and all their benefits. I shared how much my 4- and 8-year-old grandchildren love lemon water. No sugar added, just lemons and water. It’s very hydrating, give it a try. Stay cool and hydrate, hydrate, hydrate!
Until next time,
Peace, Love, and Blessings💖
