Nurses Corner: Re-think Your Drink by Nurse Heidi McGlown, RN
Sugar may be sweet, but the health effects of sugar con- sumption are not. Drinking large amounts of sugar can lead to serious health proble- ms. Did you know? • Drinking large amounts of sugary beverages can increase the risk of gain- ing weight and developing Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and gout! • Sugary beverage intake is significantly associated with weight gain and obesity. • Women who drink one or more sugary beverages daily have almost twice the risk of developing diabetes as those who drink less than one sugary beverage daily. • A child’s risk of becoming obese increases by 60% with each additional sug- ary beverage consumed daily. • People who drink carbonat- ed sugary beverages have almost double the risk of dental cavities.
• Drinking just one 20-ounce bottle of a sugary beverage per day can result in gaining 25 extra pounds per year! • The health costs of obesity in the United States are about $147 billion annually. With that money, we could buy everyone in the U.S. an iPad. • Most sugary drinks provide no additional nutrients needed for our health and are “empty calories”. While it’s great to stay hydrated, consider reaching for drinks with no sugar added such as water, un-sweetened iced tea or coffee. If you prefer some sweetness to your drink you could always add some fresh fruit or lemon to your drink to give it some flavor!
January, February & March 2020 Crest Ink 19
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