The Energy Drink Blog

Did you know that the human body is more that 65% water? Everything from our blood, muscles, brain, and bones are comprised of a significant percentage of water. Water is a vital element for sustaining life and body functions. Unfortunately most of us do not drink nearly enough water and are dehydrated. Dehydration can have a negative effect on our bodily systems. To further illustrate this read the following.

Often times thirst can be mistaken for hunger. If we feel hungry, it is often that we are not hungry, but rather thirsty. A way to be sure that we are giving our body adequate hydration is to drink water even when we are not thirsty. Usually, once we realize that we are thirsty, it is too late and we are already dehydrated.

Aside from keeping us hydrated, drinking water is also necessary for those who are trying to lose weight. Drinking water not only helps us to feel full, but it also helps to flush our body of toxins and helps aid fiber in the digestion process.

If you often feel tired, it could be because you are not hydrated enough. When there is not enough water in the blood, it slows down the body functions and often leaves us feeling sluggish and tired. Headaches and constipation can also result from dehydration.

To prevent dehydration from occurring, it is recommended that ½ to ¾ of an ounce of water be consumed daily per pound of body weight. This will ensure that the body is properly flushed of toxins and waste. Staying hydrated will also help keep the skin looking young and plump and full. Water can also give definition to muscles.

If drinking water seems too bland, water can be mixed with low calorie and low sugar mixes, as well as whey protein. For those who want to drop some pounds, hoodia extract can be mixed with water to suppress the appetite.

Did you know that about 20 percent of the calories an individual consumes in a day are derived from drinks?  It is often over looked that the beverages that we consume in a day also contain calories, but truth is they do, and they are partly to blame for the added weight we carry around.

Starting with breakfast, most people drink coffee, juice or milk. These are all culprits of high hidden calories. For example, while plain black coffee has less than 5 calories, adding cream, and sugar can greatly spike the caloric value to an otherwise nonexistent calorie count. Just by switching from whole milk or cream to skim milk in your coffee, many calories can be cut.  Similarly, juice is often loaded with sugar and one glass can have upwards of 200 calories a glass! This is an important wake up call for those who are trying to lose weight.

Moving on in the day, caffeinated sodas are a diet disaster. Loaded with sugar these drinks can contain about 200 calories per serving. Many people realize this and have made the switch to diet soda. While diet soda may be the lesser of two evils, research shows that diet soda drinkers are 34% more likely than those who don’t drink it to develop a metabolic disorder. Also, it has been studied that diet soda drinkers are likely to have a high craving for sweets and eat more than those who do not. For most people, a diet drink and a bag of chips constitutes a lunch, however a whey protein shake is a much better alternative, as it send signals of fullness to the brain and is relatively low in calories with lots of nutrition.

Finishing out the beverage intake for the day, some people like to finish off the day with a drink. No matter if the drink is hard liquor, beer or wine, these beverages contain anywhere from 90 to approximately 200 calories per serving. This is another sneaky source of extra calories which lead to weight gain.

The best way to lose weight and cut out calorie intake from beverages is to drink water. Water can be flavored with many items such as citrus and herbs to add some flavor and depth without adding calories. Even hoodia extract can be added to water to help suppress the appetite.

“A moment on the lips, forever on the hips;” this holiday season are words to live by. While you may have been good all year, over indulging on holiday food may show up on the waistline come the New Year. Many favorite holiday foods are loaded with calories, some with exceptionally high values. Usually dishes at holiday times take everyday nutritious foods and turn them into a diet disaster. The following foods should be avoided from a nutritional stand point.

Sweet potato casserole: Sweet potatoes are generally a nutritious diet food. Full of beta carotene and other healthful vitamins, come the holiday season, this otherwise healthy vegetable gets smothered in sugary marshmallows, butter and brown sugar, a lot of empty calories!

In addition to sweet potatoes, otherwise healthy regular potatoes get jazzed up with cream and butter. If you are the cook, try substituting chicken broth for the butter and milk. No one will be the wiser. Actually in addition to a better health option, chicken stock also offers an additional flavor enhancer to holiday dishes.

Eggnog: the combination of sugar, heavy cream and alcohol surely tastes delicious; however a single serving of this festive libation packs nearly 400 calories! That equals a lot of time on the treadmill to work off. If this drink is too much to pass up, be sure to cut back on other indulgences.  

Fried stuff with cheese: What can be tastier than the salty combination of cheese combined with some fried carbohydrate? Even though these comfort foods bring back fond memories, they contain little or no nutritional value and a healthier substitute should be taken into consideration.

To offset these diet hazards those serious about weight loss have found appetite suppressants such as hoodia extract a great tool in the fight against hunger cravings. Also meals high in protein, or a supplemental protein shake will send the signal of fullness to the brain, in turn curbing the appetite.  Finally remember if you are serious about your efforts to lose weight, self control and moderation are the key to enjoying the holiday season that is upon us.