Americans Drinking Less Soda.

July 30, 2012 By 12 Comments

It’s true: I’m not a big fan of soda. In fact, as this video illustrates, I’d rather clean with Coca-Cola than ingest it.

The reality is sugary drinks are still a major source of calories. In fact, some studies even peg soda as the number one calorie source in the average American’s diet. That’s more calories from soda than alcohol, cake, bread, pizza, French fries or anything else. For the record, the National Cancer Institute ranks soda as the number 4 source.

But things are changing. Slowly.

Research shows that per capita soda consumption has dropped about 16% from its peak in 1998. In 2011, average soda consumption even dipped below 2 servings per day for the first time in a long time. In a different study, researchers found that sugar consumption decreased by about 25% in the last decade – mostly due to decreased soda consumption.

It seems that consumers and decision-makers are finally getting the message about soda. In fact, in recent years, sodas have been banned from many schools and a slew of local governments are removing carbonated beverages from public facilities. But despite the headwinds, carbonated soft drinks are a $75 billion industry in the United Sates.

A 16% decrease is a great start – but we’ve still got a long ways to go.

It begs the question: Instead of soda, what are consumers drinking? What’s filling our void? According to research (and illustrated in the above graph), Americans are drinking more bottled water and more non-carbonated soft drinks like Gatorade, Vitamin Water and others. Though water is always a great choice, many non-carbonated drinks are just as calorie-dense as soda. Gatorade is great to drink when running a marathon, but it’s not a healthy choice to consume while playing video games.

Is this research indicative of your own consumption habits? Are you drinking less soda? Let me know in the comments below.

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Is Coconut Water Good For You?

October 26, 2011 By 11 Comments

I'd like to drink his coconuts...

Not ten minutes ago, I found a young coconut – popped a knife into it, and filled up a glass of fresh coconut water. Of course, you need not travel to Hawaii to get coconut water; it has become increasingly popular (many people swear by it) and coconut water can be found in many grocery stores including Whole Foods.

But all the hype begs the question: Is coconut water actually good for you?

First things first, coconut water isn’t coconut milk. Coconut water is found in unripe coconuts. As the coconut ripens, the milk becomes part of the coconut’s meat. Coconut milk is processed from this high-fat, high-calorie meat – and so it’s quite different in terms of both flavor and nutritional content.

Coconut milk is high in flavor, but also low in calories and sugars.

Many nutritionists consider coconut water to be nature’s sports drink – and a great alternative to beverages like Gatorade or Powerade. Like traditional sports drinks, coconut water contains water, carbohydrates and electrolytes. But unlike sports drinks, it contains none of the added artificial flavors, refined sugars or coloring. In other words, coconut water is a step up from sports drinks – though, keep in mind, sports drinks are really only needed during prolonged exercise.

Coconut water is also high in potassium. In fact, coconut water has more potassium than a banana! And, as such, many of the health benefits often associated with coconut water (i.e., muscle performance, heart health, kidney cleansing, etc.) are really just a result of the high potassium content. But potassium can be found in lots of fruits and veggies – and often with more fiber than coconut water.

Bottom line: There’s nothing magic about coconut water; it’s simply a delicious, low-calorie alternative that can be part of a healthy diet when consumed in moderation. It’s great to drink after a hard workout (and definitely a huge upgrade from sugar drinks like soda) – but, at the end of the day, nothing beats good, old-fashioned water.

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What Are Electrolytes?

July 15, 2011 By 6 Comments

For prolonged and rigorous exercise, water alone won't always do the trick.

If you’ve ever picked up a sports drink, you’ve probably seen something on the labeling about its electrolyte content. But what are electrolytes and why are they important?

According to Discovery Health:

Electrolyte is a “medical/scientific” term for salts, specifically ions. The term electrolyte means that this ion is electrically-charged and moves to either a negative (cathode) or positive (anode) electrode.

What you really need to know is that electrolytes serve many roles in the body including the regulation of muscle function, nerve function, blood pH, blood pressure and hydration. Electrolytes are very important – and tightly regulated by our kidneys and various hormones.

When we sweat, we tend to lose electrolytes. If your balance of electrolytes is off, you may experience weakness, twitching, fatigue, confusion or a handful of other hindering issues. To maintain a good balance of electrolytes over the course of strenuous exercise (and thus, optimal performance levels), electrolytes should be replaced. This can easily be done by eating fruits, vegetables or by consuming a sports drink.

Of course, it takes intense exercise and subsequent dehydration to cause a real electrolyte imbalance; it’s probably not something you’ll need to worry about from a short jog or trip to the gym. And though sports drinks may be tasty, they’re generally unnecessary (and often unhealthy) except during and after intense exercise.

If you are partaking in prolonged exercise – like running a marathon, a long kayak trip, cross-country skiing, etc. – then water alone won’t necessarily cut it. Opt for high-electrolyte food or drink options to help maintain optimal performance.

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