Healthy Diet: Trading A Sugary Beverage For Water Can Cut Down Obesity

Swapping a sugary beverage for water can reduce daily calorie intake and the prevalence of obesity in those who drink sugary beverages, according to the results of a new study. The study involved modeling an exchange from consuming an 8-ounce serving of a sugary beverage to consuming an 8-ounce serving of water.

"We found that among U.S. adults who consume one serving of sugar-sweetened beverages per day, replacing that drink with water lowered the percent of calories coming from drinks from 17 to 11 percent," said study author Kiyah J. Duffey, as per a report in EurekAlert. Duffey is a nutrition consultant and an adjunct professor from Virginia Tech University.

According to the report, Duffey discovered that a decline in the daily calorie intake from sugary beverages was associated with an improved individual score on the Healthy Beverage Index, a system she developed in 2015 with Brenda Davy. Davy is a nutrition researcher and a professor in Virginia Tech University. The Healthy Beverage Index they created is based on standards from the Beverage Guidance Panel and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

The study has revealed that additional calories from sugary beverages such as soda, energy drinks and sweetened coffee can lead people to face greater risks of health impairments, reported News 18. The additional calories are said to increase risks for cardiovascular disease, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and weight gain. Duffey reportedly said that swapping even one serving of sugary beverage is good.

Indian Express quoted Duffey as saying that diet drinks are the healthier counterparts to sugary beverages. Those who choose to consume diet drinks reportedly eat more fruits and vegetables, have lower blood sugar and have better hydration. The study, which Duffey did with co-author Jennifer Poti from the University of North Carolina, was published in the journal Nutrients.