Are You A Skinny Sipper?

Fruit juices, nutrient-boosted waters, energy drinks, smoothies, protein shakes, Instant Breakfast, and liquid diet meals.....are they ever a good idea when you are trying to lose weight?

Well, sometimes yes, but mostly no. Like everything else in life, though, moderation is the key when getting your nutrients from beverages.

One of the pros for any beverage is that they are easy to measure - so you can pour a standard serving, read the label, and know exactly what you are getting.  And they are usually filling. One of the minuses, is that what you are getting may be high in calories and loaded with sugar and salt.

If you choose to drink juice, make sure you are getting 100% fruit juice - not a "juice drink" and by all means, please check the sugar content. With any bottled or canned beverage, compare the ingredients and the calorie content --- you can often save hundreds - literally -- of calories by eating a piece of fruit than drinking its counterpart in juice. An orange is also less expensive than an 16 - ounce bottle of orange juice.

There's something about chewing food that is much more satisfying than drinking a "meal."  Additionally, the fiber in whole, real food is beneficial to digestion and  helps us feel full - usually longer than a meal replacement drink.

To find out more about what kinds of liquids affect our diets in a positive or negative way, click here to view WebMD's slide show called "Best & Worst Drinks for Weight-Loss".

I just can't sign off without reminding you that pure, simple, cheap water is always a beneficial choice.