Overlooked Calories In Beverages
A new study finds that most people forget to take into account the calories they take in from drinks, calculating only those they get from food, reports Health Correspondent Dr. Dave Hnida of CBS News Affiliate KCNC-TV in Denver.
Researchers at Purdue University asked study participants to eat 450 calories of jelly beans every day for a month. They then switched the demand to 450 calories of soda every day for a month. What they found was that when the participants ate the jelly beans, they compensated on their own by eating smaller meals and gained no weight. But for the month of drinking soda, they didn't make adjustments to their diet, and gained weight.
The number of calories found in the average drink may surprise most people. Following are a few examples of the number of calories found in 12 oz. servings of drinks:
- Cran-Apple juice, 246 calories
- Soda, 150 calories
- Gatorade, 72 calories
- Beer, 150 calories
Even fruit smoothies sold at health food juice bars can pack a caloric punch: 1,000 calories, despite all the wholesome ingredients, says Dr. Hnida.
The researchers believe that these "forgotten" calories may be one reason for America's spreading girth.