By drinking a can of soda per day, we swallow the equivalent of 6 to 7 lumps of sugar. Almost the daily sugar ration (8 pieces or 50g) recommended by the World Health Organization! We understand better why sugary drinks like sodas promote overweight and are the bane of diets. >> To read also: How many sugars are there in?
If we stopped the sodas and replaced them with water, what would it do? This is the starting point of a study by researchers from North Carolina. They were interested in the impact of the elimination of sugary drinks with water on people in overweight, without any other change in diet.
318 overweight or obese adults with an average age of 42 participated in the experiment.
These volunteers consumed an average of 280 calories in sweet or alcoholic drinks. They were divided into three groups: the first replaced its sugary drinks with water, the second had the right to take “light” drinks, while the third control group maintained its drinking habits. The three groups received in parallel some dietary advice, on the importance of a balanced diet, the resumption of physical activity … Waist circumference, blood pressure, and weight were measured every 2 months. Verdict after 6 months: the group encouraged to drink water lost an average of 2% of their body weight; the “light” group 2.5% of its body weight. The “control” group had lost 1.8% of its weight. >> To read also: United States: a shock campaign against sugary drinks
Water rather than “light”
No significant difference between the three groups. However, the researchers concluded that the two groups that substituted sodas and sugary drinks by water or non-calorie drinks had doubled their chances of losing up to 5% of their body weight.
“Replacing sugary drinks with water or diet drinks is an effective and simple change for people who want to lose or maintain their weight,” said Deborah Tate, author of the study. To choose between water and light drinks, water is obviously the best option.
