The One High-Sugar Item A Dietitian Says To Keep Out Of Your Pantry
There are so many different foods, drinks, and ingredients that people keep in their pantries, which are important spots in your home to keep all of your kitchen and cooking essentials. While it's natural for your pantry to hold a few more indulgent things, like sugar and chocolate chips for baking or some cocktail ingredients, these days, when you're trying to lose weight, it's essential to keep an eye on what you're putting in there.
After all, when you keep your home stocked with more nutritious items, you have no choice but to eat something that's better for you and your body. But when you have high-sugar, high-calorie items filling your pantry, then you're more likely to sabotage your weight loss journey or healthy eating habits. Rachel Gargano, an experienced registered dietitian, revealed that having this one thing in your pantry can easily throw off your healthy habits, as it's super high in sugar or full of additives that you don't need.
"One of the biggest contributors of sugar and calories in our diet is sodas and other sugary beverages," she explains. "Think sports drinks, coffee beverages, fruit juices, etc."
Why You Should Keep Soda & Sugary Beverages Out Of Your Pantry
Oftentimes, we stock our pantries with beverages, both canned and bottled, without even giving them a second thought. After all, it is nice to have different drinks on hand for when you're entertaining. However, these drinks, like regular soda, fruit punch, and juices, or sports drinks like Gatorade, are what many health experts consider to be "empty calories" and can easily load you up with added sugar, over time causing a series of poor health issues.
"Decades of research have shown that habitually drinking sugar-sweetened beverages is linked not only with weight gain, but also certain chronic diseases," notes Gargano.
Although you may believe you have the best willpower in the world, chances are, if these drinks are in your pantry, you're going to drink them at some point. Additionally, drinking them frequently can easily be an example of empty calories hurting your chances of slimming down safely. Of course, there are better options out there, and Gargano recommends seeking out low-sugar options to keep in your pantry and overall diet.
"While the most important thing we should be drinking daily is water, that doesn't always satisfy our need for a crispy, bubbly, sweet drink," says Gargano. "A great alternative would be a prebiotic or probiotic soda. Not only are these drinks low in added sugar, if they contain any at all, but they also provide nutritional benefits: fiber and/or probiotics. As a dietitian, I don't recommend these types of drinks every day, especially since it may take your body some time to get used to these new ingredients, but they make an excellent swap for that occasional soda craving!"