3 Beverages No One Should Be Drinking Anymore Because They Lead To Weight Gain And Inflammation

This post has been updated since its original publication date to include more information from experts.

yes frequently suffer from inflammationit is vital to reassess the drinks you consume daily, health experts tell us, to determine what triggers this in you. Many of us drink inflammatory drinks without even realizing their power to cause bloating, cramps, weight gain, indigestion, etc. With that said, we consulted health and nutrition experts to learn more about 3 drinks for anyone who commonly experiences inflammation (and who wants prevent weight gain) should be avoided and why. Read on for tips, advice, and insights from Natalia KomovaRD, registered dietitian and fitness expert, sara chatfieldMPH, RDN, Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist and dana ellis hunnesPhD, MPH, RD, Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Expert.

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Tip #1: Skip soda and replace it with kombucha

While replacing any of your favorite high-sugar or high-calorie beverages with water is the optimal solution to inflammation and the best way to go, that can be hard to do at first. If you often drink sodas, colas, or other similar fizzy, sugary drinks, Hunnes suggests opting for kombucha instead, since it is an anti-inflammatory option rich in probiotics. “Probiotics and Antioxidants [in kombucha] they are anti-inflammatory and can help promote gastrointestinal health by helping to colonize the GI tract with healthy bacteria,” she explains. Komova adds that soda in particular is one of the most inflammatory drinks out there, as “it can also cause resistance to insulin and raise cholesterol levels, which slows down weight loss.” Overall, preventing inflammation will only help your overall health (and/or) your weight loss goals, says Komova, since “the Inflammation can have a negative impact on weight loss, as it alters leptin responses in the body. ”

Changing these hormones affects brain function by signaling to the body that it has eaten to the max. “Leptin resistance triggers weight gain as people tend to unknowingly consume more calories.” The antioxidants in kombucha can not only help prevent this and aid digestion, but also help prevent inflammation, Hunnes notes, and also promote the health of probiotics. “Kombucha is also thought to slow down the digestion of carbohydrates, probably in part due to the healthy anti-inflammatory effects it has on the GI tract,” says Hunnes.

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#2— Swap energy drinks for lightly sweetened coffee

If you like to wake up with the help of an energy drink, this will only exacerbate your inflammatory symptoms, says Komova. With so much sugar, fruit flavors, and an instant serving of caffeine, energy drinks are popular for their taste, but as Komova explains, their potential to cause inflammation is a notable concern. “I strongly recommend that you keep these drinks out of your weight-loss diet routines,” says Komova, referring to energy drinks, the common drinks that contain stimulant compounds. “Most energy and sports drinks contain sweeteners, colorings and added sugars that are your health,” she continues. These man-made compounds, she adds, can cause chronic inflammation.

“The drinks contain processed sugars and artificial sweeteners that increase the risk of inflammation in the body, which slows down the weight loss process.” If you need an energy boost to help you wake up in the morning, Hunnes recommends drinking black coffee (which contains zero calories, by the way) or “lightly sweetened” beverages with plant-based or monk fruit sweeteners that are sugar-free.

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#3— Avoid sugary sweet tea, try unsweetened

Lastly, super sweet tea is a delicious treat once in a while, but should ultimately be avoided if you’re prone to inflammation, Chatfield emphasizes. Drinking this often leads to excessive sugar intake which can lead to weight gain, she says. Sugar-sweetened beverages, such as sweet teas, are a big culprit because “we may not think of them as high in calories, and our bodies also don’t recognize calories the same way they do calories from food.” says Chatfield. This can lead to higher calorie intake later on. This, she continues, can lead to changes in fat metabolism. “There is an increased risk of fatty liver disease, where fat accumulates in the liver. Too much insulin from high sugar intake can also be detrimental to artery and heart health,” she says, noting that the drawbacks of sweet tea relate to more than just inflammation.

To promote your ideal health and prevent inflammation, she recommends drinking unsweetened iced tea, as it has health benefits due to its flavonoid content. Ultimately, the high sugar content of sweetened sweet teas (popular teas range from about 28 to 44 grams of sugar per 12-ounce serving) can quickly cause you to exceed the maximum recommended sugar intake of 24 grams per day for most women and 36 grams per day for most men. Chatfield concludes that “unsweetened iced tea is a better option” for this reason and to prioritize and care for your digestive health.