Zero-Calorie or Diet Drinks
If you want a zero-calorie drink, nothing beats water. Make sure to drink at least half an ounce of water for every pound you weigh—every day—to stay properly hydrated.
But if you equate zero-calorie drinks to diet soda and similar drinks, be warned. Diet beverages generally use artificial sweeteners instead of sugar to sweeten them. When we drink them, they trick our brain into thinking it’s getting glucose. But when it doesn’t, research finds we end up reaching for sweeter foods later on.
If you’re looking for low-calorie sweet beverages, make your own iced tea with a little xylitol, stevia, monk fruit, or erythritol as they won’t negatively affect blood sugar levels the way artificial sweeteners can.
Smoothies are another sweet drink and often a great way to get the nutrients we need on a daily basis. But many commercially available smoothies contain a large amount of sugar because it’s either added to the smoothie itself through the base that’s used, or a fruit syrup is used instead of fresh fruit. I love making my own smoothies in my blender and I throw in whatever I have in the fridge: fruits, veggies, protein powder, and nuts.
To keep the sugar content down, you can use water as the base, or unsweetened plant-based milk.
