NOT ALL SUGAR-FREE DRINKS ARE HEALTHY - HERE'S HOW TO SELECT THE RIGHT SUGAR-FREE DRINK FOR YOU! -
In the last decade, we witnessed a rise in conversations around fitness across age brackets and geographies. As more & more people took to social media to share accounts of their daily lives and milestones, an increasing number of people also began to journal their ‘flab to fab’ stories, workout plans, meal plans, fitness hacks and lots more. Riding this growing fitness wave, brands took to the market with new health products including alternatives to ingredients that induce health problems when consumed in excess amounts, such as sugar.
Seeking the alternative
The natural sweeteners market is estimated to reach USD 27,940 million by 2026, as per a recent report. This surge in demand for boycotting sugar or consuming alternatives like jaggery sugar, maple syrup, honey, coconut sugar and others, is viewed to accelerate weight loss and maintain a healthy body. However, before you decide that sugar is detrimental to your health – it is important to educate yourself first about its nutritional facts versus what is important for your body.
Sugar on its own is not harmful for our bodies – yes, that’s right! It is the way we consume sugar in its processed form that harms us, whereas naturally formed sugar found in fruits & vegetables is extremely beneficial. These are packed with fibre, protein, minerals and vitamins, and hence, hard to overdo. Sweet potatoes, oranges, bananas, pineapples, apples, etc that are recommended to maintain a healthy diet are all packed with nutritional values and natural sugar.
Sugar-free, no added sugar or unsweetened?
So, if one shouldn’t consume processed sugar, what are the options available when we want to sip of a nice glass of cold drink or a warm cuppa at the end of the day or a boost of energy drink after a strenuous workout? This is the question that bolstered the healthy drinks market over the past decade.
Saccharin, acesulfame, aspartame, neotame and sucralose are five artificial sweeteners that are FDA approved and thus, are used in most sugar free products. And while it is wise to opt for drinks that are low on sugar, it is also important to ensure that sugar is not the only ingredient that has been dropped while making the product.
Make a smart choice, do a full nutrition check.
The key to a healthy body can be summarised in one word – ‘balance’. A balanced sugarfree drink has low or no sugar content. It also has (and this is often missed) minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium etc. These electrolytepacked drinks provide you with the necessary nutrition that is required by you to maintain a healthy body. While the lack of sugar enables you to drop those extra calories, the electrolytes surging through your body gives you enough fuel to burn additional calories in the form of energy.
Like the natural forms of sugar such as fruits & veggies, an electrolyterich drink is a healthy choice that is rich in essential ingredients that only add to your health. These keep you hydrated and help reduce muscle cramps and fatigue. It enables you to workout effectively and stay physically active for a better effect without altering your taste buds or risking your metabolism. If in case you choose to skip sugarfree drinks and opt for natural sugars, try and eat fruits and vegetables instead of consume its juice. All in all, if you are planning to denounce processed sugar, you have already taken a smart choice. Now, let’s make it smarter by choosing the right alternatives with the necessary nutrients. Remember that you want to reduce sugar in your diet not the sweet goodness of health!