Published: August 01, 2008 05:26 pm            

Think before you quench your thirst

Kathy Smith, Democrat Columnist

A cool drink on a hot summer day can be so refreshing. It can also be a quick way to spoil all your hard work when trying to watch your calorie intake. There are so many options when it comes to drinks but a little thought before hand will help keep your calorie count in check.

n Energy drinks. Think twice before swigging one of these for a cool kick-start. One energy drink that is heavily advertised is Red Bull, which has a lot of sugar (two tablespoons) and three times the amount of caffeine found in a can of cola. These drinks are also acidic, so the price you may pay for cooling off could be dental erosion. A study recently reported that it may cause more harm to tooth enamel than soda, Gatorade or a coffee drink. It is a good idea to use a straw or rinse after finishing these drinks.

n Sweet tea and other sugary drinks. These can quickly add up to 200, 300 or even more calories a day. The calories in soda range from zero for diet soda, up to 140 for a 12-ounce can, to more than 550 for that large movie theater soda you swig while mindlessly eating all that popcorn. Also, in addition to extra calories, they don’t offer any nutritious value. This is most worrisome for children who may be drinking these less nutritious beverages much too often and not getting the benefit of milk which helps build strong bones, teeth and is a source of protein for growing bodies.

n Fruit drinks. It’s fruit, it’s got to be good for you, right? If it is 100 percent fruit juice, the juice’s calories come with nutrients so it balances out. If it is fruitade, fruit punch or fruit drink, it is more likely fruit-flavored sugar water containing very few nutrients. It always pays to carefully read the nutrition label to verify you are getting what you think you are. Snapple kiwi strawberry juice drink and Tropicana 100 percent orange juice both have 220 calories in 16 ounces. The big difference is the nutrient content.

n Frozen drinks. These can be the most tempting on a really hot day but can often make a major dent in an entire day‚s calorie allowance. A 16-ounce Starbucks‚ Caffe Vanilla Frappuccino blended coffee is 430 calories. An extra-extra large 40-ounce 7-11 Slurpee is 325 calories. You’ll spend a whopping 950 calories to enjoy a 15.5-ounce Dairy Queen chocolate chip cookie dough Blizzard or 1,110 calories on a 32-ounce McDonald’s triple thick shake. It is always a good idea to go online to your favorite vendor and check out calorie counts in advance. Order the smallest sizes, or consider sharing with someone so you don‚t feel deprived, but still spare your waistline.

n Enhanced bottled water. Flavored, bottled water often comes with extra calories. This is a case where it is very important to read the labels. Do the math if the label suggests the bottle contains two or more servings. The calorie count can be a lot more than you would think. You can always add your own flavoring to water with a fresh squeezed lemon or lime for a calorie-free drink.

The best beverage choice to keep cool and hydrated is plain, unflavored water. It is calorie-free and if it comes from the tap, is a “greener” choice than bottled drinks or bottled water. The best thing about water compared to other beverages is that it is usually readily available and can quench your thirst without breaking your calorie bank. One more thing to remember — if you are exercising or spending any length of time out in these extreme temperatures we are having right now, please remember that re-hydration is critical. So drink up.

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Kathy Smith is the Parker County extension agent. Her column appears Sundays. She may be contacted at (817) 598-6168.

        

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