ARE YOUR CALORIES EMPTY

A study was conducted, a few years ago, at Berkeley to analysis the diet trends of Americans. It was no surprise that sugary snacks and sodas reigned supreme over healthier options such as vegetables and fruit, but the extremely high proportion is quite alarming. The study revealed that sweets and desserts, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages comprise over 25 percent of all calories consumed by Americans. Another survey by the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, found that two thirds of those surveyed reported drinking enough soda and/or sweet drinks to provide them with the greater proportion of daily calories than any other food.

These sugary foods are high in calories and therefore cause weight gain. but are totally void of nutrients like vitamins and minerals. That is why we call them "empty calories". They are the very reason so many people in our nation are obese, yet malnourished. The diet sodas are not the answer either. They are also empty of nutrients and spike an insulin response, the same as sugar, causing us to crave carbohydrates with net result of weight gain.

So instead of reaching for that soda, try drinking your water. If you need to add flavor, try adding fresh lemon, lime, orange, or other fruit. For more information come see us at Canadian Valley Pharmacy.