Drinking Habits to Avoid for a Lean Body After 50, Say Dietitians
Many of us have new health goals that we are pursuing this year, and having the proper tools to achieve these goals is always an important part of the process.
If you're in your 50s and one of your health goals is to lose weight, we've got you covered. We talked with some of the best expert dietitians about drinking habits you may want to avoid when trying to shed some pounds, and their advice will help make your journey easier and more attainable.
Consuming too much alcohol.
You don't have to say a permanent goodbye to alcohol (unless recommended by your doctor), but limiting your consumption of it can greatly help your health in your 50s.
"Alcohol comes with loads of empty calories (with no nutritional value) that increase your risk of becoming overweight while depriving you of certain water-soluble vitamins like B complex vitamins and vitamin C," says Roxanne Bakker, RD with Vitl.
Not only that, but too much alcohol canalso harm your liver, which may lead to other health problems as well.
"Alcohol intake can increase the risk of developing liver disease, especially if you are on prescribed medication, so managing your alcohol intake is key to making sure you are not overloading your liver with toxins to process and cleanse away from your body," says Bakker.
Choosing drinks with added sugar.
Drinks with tons of added sugar may contribute to weight gain and more difficulty with trying to get a lean body after 50.
"Drinks with excess sugar cause blood sugar spikes and can contribute to feelings of unnecessary hunger," says Morgyn Clair, MS, RDN, author at Fit Healthy Momma.
According to the Harvard School of Public Health, sugar-sweetened beverages like soda are some of the worst for weight gain because they don't fill you up as solid food would, and they don't have any nutritional value at all. So if you're trying to shed some weight this year, you may want to think twice before reaching for the soda.
Drinking too many energy drinks.
Speaking of added sugar, energy drinks are another major culprit when it comes to making your weight loss more difficult. While you may be tempted to grab one so you can get a mid-day energy boost, experts suggest skipping this one altogether.
"Energy drinks are packed with sugar, which will make it more difficult for you to burn fat and can also lead to weight gain," says Janet Coleman, RD with The Consumer Mag. "Try to avoid consuming energy drinks if you want to reduce your chances of gaining weight."
Here are the Unhealthiest Energy Drinks on the Planet, According to Dietitians.
Forgetting to hydrate.
Staying hydrated is one of the foundational components of being able to lose weight and gain muscle after workouts.
"Drinking water regularly helps your body recover and regulate its temperature," says Michelle Hawksworth, RD for Muscle and Brawn. "When you're not hydrated, your body won't be able to perform at its fullest potential during workouts."
Hawksworth also warns that juices and sports drinks during or after a workout can sometimes derail your goals because of the high added sugar content. So you're probably better off drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated throughout your day.
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