Fluids and Cancer: What Should I Drink?

Think Your Drink!

We've talked about sugar, and we've talked about artificial sweeteners. Regular sodas, juice, Kool-Aid and here in the south, sweet tea, can contribute a significant amount of calories. Take this example:

Scenario 1:   16 oz. latte with whole milk (they use whole milk unless you ask for something else)
                    20 oz. soda with lunch
                    Sweetened ice tea in the afternoon
                    12 oz. can of ginger ale with dinner

Scenario 2:    12 oz. latte with skim milk
                     Water or diet soda with lunch
                     Sparkling water with lemon flavor in the afternoon
                     Water with lemon, or seltzer water with a splash of 100% fruit juice at dinner

Scenario 1 provides the consumer with 800 calories in their drink choices alone. Scenario 2 provides between 125 and 155. That difference would amount to 1.3 pounds of fat gained per week, 5.5 pounds gained per month, or 68 pounds gained per year. THAT is a big difference!

But you're not sure that you want to consume a lot of artificial sweeteners either. Here is a breakdown of what the Beverage Guidance Panel recommends for fluid intake. Remember that 1 drink = 8 ounces or a measured cup.

• Sodas, "fruit" drinks, other sweetened beverages: 0-1 drinks/day
• 100% fruit juices, sports drinks, alcoholic beverages: 0-1 drinks/day
• Diet drinks and other artificially sweetened beverages: 0-4 drinks/day
• Milk/Soy Milk: 0-2 drinks/day
• Unsweetened coffee, unsweetened tea, mineral water, other unsweetened beverages: 0-5  drinks/day
• Water: 2-6 drinks/day

What Would Julie Do?

Personally, I try to have no more than 1 sweetened or artificially sweetened drink per day. In reality, I probably don't have more than 2 a week. I try to have unsweetened tea (usually hot) in the morning, water with lunch and during the day, and a juice/seltzer water mix in the evening. I might have hot tea or a glass of water before bed.

Typically, I mix up the types of tea that I drink, just for variety. Sometimes green tea, sometimes herbal tea, oolong, black, or whatever looks interesting at the store!

Now that you know how much difference a drink can make, here are some ways to make smart beverage choices:

• Choose water
• Don’t “stock the fridge” with soda. Instead, keep a jug or bottles of cold water or unsweetened tea in the fridge.
• Serve water with meals.
• Make water more exciting by adding slices of lemon, lime, cucumber, or watermelon, or drink sparkling water.
• Add a splash of 100% juice to plain sparkling water for a refreshing, low-calorie drink. (My favorite is lemon or lime seltzer water mixed with pomegranate/black current juice).
• When you do opt for a sugar-sweetened beverage, go for the small size. Some companies are now selling 8oz. cans and bottles of soda, which contain about 100 calories.

The bottom line is that our body needs water. Our taste buds want sweet. Retraining our taste buds and our habits is not easy, but can be a smart thing to do for health.

So tip your cup, and try some new beverages or treat yourself to a new reusable water bottle!
- Julie

References: (Pour Better or Pour Worse, Nutrition Action Newsletter, June 2006.; Rethink Your Drink, Center for Disease Control).