Carolyn Guilford, CNC The goal of this column and the goal of the Health Restoration 101 programs are to help to maximize your chances of living a longer, healthier life.

Are You Having Trouble Losing Weight? Consider what you are drinking, both with meals, and between.

Many times we pile up calories with sweetened drinks such as kool-aid, juices, sweetened and flavored waters, milk shakes, coffee and teas and many others, and give no thought to the impact of these calories. We can easily drink 1,000 to 2,000 calories per day. Certainly coffee and tea have no calories on their own, but we add sugar and cream and add up the calories.

Take note also that calories from drinks are handled differently in the body than the calories in foods. Food reduces hunger in the body, and causes us to eat less and then to stop eating as we become full. Calories from liquids add up, but do little to reduce hunger.

A study held at Johns Hopkins University reveals that what we drink may be more important than what we eat when trying to lose weight. The study followed 810 people from 25 to 79 years of age for 18 months.

"Both liquid and solid calories were associated with weight change, said Dr. Benjamin Caballero, however the reduction in the liquid caloric intake was shown to significantly affect weight loss during the six-month follow up".

This study found that people who cut out one sugarsweetened drink a week lost more than a pound over six months. Further, the study found that participants got 37 percent of their liquid calories from sweetened drinks, rather than juice, water, milk or other beverages.

So you might think that to drink unsweetened or artificially sweetened drinks is the answer. Maybe not. Unsweetened tea or coffee is ok, in moderation if you are able to tolerate the caffeine. But, artificial sweeteners cause cravings for sweets, and some scientists believe they cause cancer and other problems.

To loose weight and to keep it off, change your diet to increase fruits and veggies, moderate the fried foods, and fast foods, eat whole grains, and make water the drink of choice. Drinking enough water per day can get you properly hydrated and keep hunger at bay longer. Pay attention to both what you eat and drink. It will be easier than you think.

Nutrition Consulting Saves Lives! If you would like to purchase the book –Health Restoration 101, attend the class: Grocery Shopping 101, or if you are ready to change the level of your health for the better, call for a Free Consultation 912) 236-8987 Or write to:
Carolyn Guilford at
Health Restoration
Consulting
P. O. Box 2814, Savannah,
GA 31402
www.Healthrestoration101
.com