Health professionals advise us that if you frequently experience inflammation, it’s critical to reexamine the everyday beverages you take to identify what causes this for you.
Unaware of their ability to also induce bloating, cramps, weight gain, indigestion, etc., many of us regularly consume inflammatory drinks. Having said that, we consulted with health and nutrition professionals to learn more about the three drinks that people who frequently experience inflammation (and who want to avoid weight gain) should avoid and why. Continue reading for advice, suggestions, and perspectives from registered dietitians Sara Chatfield, MPH, RDN, a registered dietitian and nutritionist, and Dana Ellis Hunnes, PhD, MPH, RD, a registered dietitian and nutrition expert Nataly Komova.
- Kombucha is a better option than soda
The best course of action for inflammation is to switch to water from any beloved high-sugar or high-calorie beverages, but that may be challenging at first.
Hunnes advises choosing kombucha as an alternative to fizzy, sugary drinks like sodas and colas because it is an anti-inflammatory and probiotic-rich beverage. According to the author, by helping to populate the GI tract with beneficial bacteria,
the probiotics and antioxidants in kombucha can promote GI health. According to Komova, soda is one of the most inflammatory beverages available because it “may also increase insulin resistance and raise cholesterol levels, hindering weight loss.” Overall, controlling inflammation will only improve your health.
- Replace energy drinks with lightly sweetened coffee
Energy drinks will only make your inflammatory symptoms worse if you like to wake up with their help, according to Komova.
Energy drinks are well-liked for their taste, but, as Komova argues, their propensity to trigger inflammation is a major worry given their high sugar content, fruit-like flavours, and a quick delivery of caffeine.
Regarding energy drinks—common beverages containing stimulant compounds—Komova advises, “I strongly encourage you to remove these drinks from your weight loss diet regimens.” She says, “The majority of energy and sports drinks have extra sugars, colours, and sweeteners that are bad for your health.” She goes on to say that these synthetic substances can lead to persistent inflammation.
The beverages have artificial sweeteners and processed sugars, which raise the possibility of bodily inflammation and cause weight loss to be delayed.
- Avoid sugary sweet tea and opt for unsweetened
Last but not least, Chatfield emphasises that while extremely sweet tea is a delectable treat every now and again, it should ultimately be avoided if you are prone to inflammation.
She claims that drinking this frequently results in excessive sugar consumption and weight gain. Sweetened drinks like sweet teas are a major offender because, according to Chatfield, “our systems may not conceive of them as being high in calories, and they also don’t recognise the calories in the same way as they do those from meals.” Later on, this can result in consuming more calories.
She goes on to say that this might affect how fat is metabolised. “Fat builds up in the liver, which increases the risk of fatty liver disease.” High sugar intake and excessive insulin production can both be harmful.