If you’re looking to lose weight, it’s important to be aware of what you’re drinking. Even though alcohol is technically a liquid and calories do come in liquid form, it’s not always wise to drink your calories. In fact, there are some drinks that can actually slow down your metabolism and make it harder to lose weight.
Here are the worst drinks that are slowing your metabolism and how they can be improved:
1. Sugary Drinks
Sugary drinks such as soda, fruit juice and sweetened tea contain high levels of sugar which can increase cravings for more carbohydrates and negatively impact your blood sugar levels. Soda is one of the worst drinks for your body because it contains no nutritional value and a lot of added sugar. Sugar has been linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease — all things we want to avoid! If soda is a part of your daily routine, try switching out for some water or seltzer with lemon or lime instead.
2. Alcoholic Beverages
Alcoholic beverages like beer and wine may seem harmless because they provide a little bit of nutrition but they actually contain empty calories and promote weight gain when consumed in excess due to their impact on the liver’s ability to process fat properly. If you want to enjoy a drink from time-to-time, stick with red wine which has been shown to have health benefits!
3. Coffee
Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world. It’s also one of the ones that will slow down your metabolism. Caffeine is a stimulant that increases adrenaline levels, which forces your heart rate up temporarily. This means you’re burning more calories during this time period, but it also means your body needs more energy to burn through all those extra calories.
If you want to continue drinking coffee, switch to decaf or black tea. You can also drink green tea instead, which has been shown to increase metabolism.