Nothing is more refreshing after a long, demanding run or bicycle ride than a long, cool drink. Choosing one, however, can be a little confusing. Should a person opt for diet soda, or maybe choose one of those new energy boosters that gives you enough get-up-and-go to simply fly away? Or, perhaps it would be more prudent to skip both and choose one of the nutritionally supplemental beverages. What really are the medical differences between health drinks?
To be truly healthful a drink should provide some nutritional support and benefit. In recent months advertising for nutritional supplements that look a little like milk, but come in different flavors, has increased. These products have actually existed for many years, but until recently were used primarily in health or elder-care facilities to supplement the diets of people who had trouble eating because of disease or aging.
The differences between this kind of drink and a candy-bar snack are illuminating. The good news is that the packaged drink has more vitamins and minerals than candy, and lower amounts of saturated fat. Surprisingly, however, both snacks contain very little fiber, and provide much of their energy boost through sugar. They lack any of the beneficial phytochemicals found in non-processed foods.
Few reputable nutritionists would recommend replacing meals with supplements, and in general promote an diet adequate in naturally occurring vitamins and minerals found in foods that naturally produce energy. We all run out of steam once in a while, however, and many are tempted to purchase one of the new classification of beverages called “energy drinks.” These, however, are advertised to a much younger target audience.
The best thing about the new energy-boosting drinks is that they are not usually drowning in sugar. There is a controversy, however, because the energy they provide is not from food, but from caffeine. Most contain more caffeine than a cup of coffee, and people who are sensitive to this drug may feel uncomfortable after drinking it, with possible rapid heartbeat, nervousness, insomnia, hand tremors and other common symptoms.
While moderate intake of stimulants is usually harmless, these products should not be used as a cure-all for alcohol intoxication as some people claim. Drinking coffee when drunk can increase alertness, but does not get rid of the alcohol in the body. Caffeine helps a drinker stay awake, but will not sober anyone up, and is not generally a healthy ingredient. But what about soda? Is drinking soda every medically beneficial?
Ever since the introduction of diet soda, the great debate about which is best has continued unabated. No one really argues that sugar-laden soda is a nutritious food, providing the user little more than something cold and bubbly that tastes sweet. Eliminating the sugar but keeping the pleasure factor is the idea behind diet soda, and it may have some benefits for diabetic or overweight people. But is it nutritionally superior?
People choosing diet sodas are taking in artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, sucralose or saccharin. Some studies link these sweeteners to certain kinds of cancers, and weight gain around the belly. The only benefit is their lack of refined sugar. The medical differences between Health drinks show that none of these products, whether marketed as health, energy or diet supplements are actually true substitutes for adequate nutrition, and some actually have drawbacks. None should be used as a replacement for a sound, balanced diet.
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Author is interested in methods of burning fat, losing weight and keeping in great shape, without spending hours and hours at the gym.
