Health and Fitness

When you’re trying to lose weight, what you drink can either derail your efforts completely, or help you lose weight easily.

It’s very important to avoid liquid calories in order to lose weight. Sugary or alcoholic drinks contain a very high number of calories that the body quickly converts and stores as fat. Examples of sugary drinks that you should avoid include non-diet sodas, milkshakes, cold coffee drinks served in cafes and Starbucks as well as certain fruit juices which contain a high percentage of sugar.

Drinks that will help you lose weight include:

1. Ice Cold Water

Drinking eight glasses of ice cold water will help you burn an extra 200 calories per day. This is because your body has to burn calories (i.e. fat) just to heat up the water back to your normal body temperature. A German study indicates that drinking 2 extra glasses of cold water each day can increase your metabolism by up to 30%.

2. Milk

Milk contains a very high percentage of calcium. Calcium can increase weight loss by boosting fat breakdown in cells. Adding milk and other dairy products to your diet (in moderation) can increase the rate at which you lose weight. Various studies have been conducted on the effect of drinking milk on weight loss, and the results do vary. Some studies say that milk drinkers lost 30 to 50% more fat than people who did not drink milk. Other studies indicate that people who drink milk lost up to 70% more than people who did not. Regardless of the exact figures, it is established that drinking milk can greatly help your weight-loss efforts.

3. Green Tea

Green tea increases your metabolic rate, which in turn helps you burn more fat during the day. Studies show that people who drink green tea (3 to 5 servings per day) burned 35 to 50% more fat during the day.

4. Vegetable Juice

A study conducted at Pennsylvania State University indicates that drinking one glass of vegetable juice before a meal can cause you to eat up to 150 fewer calories. Of course, drinking a few glasses of water before each meal can have a similar effect.

5. Whey Protein

Drinking whey protein curbs your appetite by releasing appetite-suppressing hormones. Recent studies indicate that people who drink whey or casein consume significantly fewer calories than those who don’t.

As you can see, if you are serious about losing weight, the right drinks can make the journey much easier.