Top 6 drinks that make people age faster

Water makes up 60% of the human body weight. According to nutritionist Janice Padilla, with such a high concentration of H2O, the fluids we absorb are especially necessary to maintain our body's daily functions, such as flushing out toxins and maintaining balance. by chemistry and tissue repair.

Drinks that cause premature aging

While some beverages (like water and unsweetened tea) nourish your body's processes and promote long-term health, others are less likely to prolong your life.

Let's find out which drinks should be avoided or limited in your diet to help support a healthy aging process.

1. Fruit juice

Many people like to start their day with a cool glass of orange juice. But unfortunately, juice does not help you in prolonging your life.

That's because fruit juices are often high in sugar and can spike your blood sugar. Many studies show that excessive use of sweeteners, can reduce glucose and lipid metabolism, increase inflammation and obesity.

'It's best to eat fruit directly,' says Padilla, to get vitamins and other nutrients like fiber.

Tip: If you still want to keep juice in your diet, use juice, says Jennifer Bruning, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Naturally no added sugar.

2. Alcoholic beverages

Alcoholic beverages can be harmful to the healthy aging process.

"Alcohol is a poison that affects every type of cell in the body," says Bruning. "Although our bodies can process alcohol and remove it from the body, long-term use, especially high levels, can contribute to heart disease, stroke, liver disease. , cancer and other chronic diseases."

Bruning says: 'Drinking also weakens the immune system and can contribute to dementia or cognitive problems.

According to the startling statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): About 1 in 10 deaths in working-age adults are caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

"If you decide to drink alcohol, keep it to a minimum," says Bruning. That means no more than one drink a day for women and two for men'.

3. Soft drinks

Drinking too much soda can also shorten your life. The problem is, most of us are drinking a lot of soft drinks.

"Sweets are not only poor in nutritional value, but a diet high in sugar has been linked to many chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes," says Bruning.

And diet sodas may not be much better: For some people, the artificial sweeteners in these drinks can lead to gastrointestinal problems like bloating and diarrhea. So if you like carbonated drinks, choose seltzer (carbonated water.

4. Tea with sugar

"Tea contains antioxidants and protects cell function," says Padilla. "But these health benefits can be lost if your tea is high in sugar."

Bruning says: 'Sugary tea can contain a little to a lot of refined sugar.'

And it is this high sugar content that contributes to the rate of weight gain and obesity. That's because too much sugar can affect metabolism and increase appetite.

If you are afraid that drinking tea will not be bland, try adding fruit to make the tea taste cool and refreshing.

5. Coffee contains milk cream

If you like drinks with creaminess, choose natural creams.

Creamy coffee contains unhealthy fats and added sugars. For example, just one tablespoon of Coffee Mate French Vanilla Coffee Creamer contains 5g of sugar and 1.5g of fat.

While it may not sound like a big deal, for people who use it every day (or multiple times per day) the sugar and fat levels can add up. And it can have big effects on your long-term health: Remember, eating too much sugar has been linked to an increased risk of chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

'If you prefer a creamy drink, choose natural, low-sugar and sugar-free creams like plant-based milk or choose a coffee made with low-fat milk and no added sugar,' says Bruning. .

6. Energy drinks

Too much caffeine in energy drinks is actually not good for health.

If you rely on energy drinks for a midday boost or to get you through a grueling workout, it could put your health in jeopardy now and in the long run.

Energy drinks often contain large amounts of sugar and caffeine - and sometimes guarana (a caffeine-containing substance), which increases the total caffeine content. Although many people consume their caffeine from tea, coffee and soft drinks, the excessive amount of caffeine in energy drinks has led to many hospitalizations for high blood pressure, elevated heart rate and heart rhythm problems.

Not to mention, large amounts of caffeine can also disrupt sleep, increase body temperature and increase gastric secretion.

This becomes more dangerous when some people mix energy drinks with alcohol. This is a toxic mixture and a double harm to your health.

So keep an eye on your caffeine intake. For most adults, 400 milligrams of caffeine per day (equivalent to about 4 cups of coffee) is safe.

If you're disappointed that your favorite drink made the list, don't worry. Moderation is key. That means you can treat yourself to a soft drink or a cocktail as long as you limit sugary drinks and alcohol most days.

The bottom line is to find a balance of things you enjoy so that it can support your health goals.