Soft drinks make you … soft - Blubber Alert

IF YOU DRINK NON-DIET SODA every day, you may be taking in a lot more extra calories than you realize. When researchers from the University of Minnesota's School of Public Health polled 1,810 people about their nutritional choices, the pollsters found that those who didn't drink soda took in an average of 1,830 calories per day, while those who drank the sugary beverage took in 2,018 calories per day. That difference of 188 calories can add up to almost two pounds of fat per month.

For guys who want to give up soda without switching to artificial sweeteners, here are some better beverage choices:

* Cool, clear water keeps you hydrated all day.

A tall glass of fresh-brewed iced tea with lemon and a teaspoon of sugar or honey is sweet and refreshing without many empty calories, and has antioxidants to boot.

* A half-and-half mixture of fruit juice and seltzer also provides antioxidants and counts as one of your daily fruit servings (although you should eat whole fruit, too).

* A glass of nonfat milk or soy milk isn't just a beverage; it's also a protein snack.

COPYRIGHT 2002 Weider Publications
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group