Drinking these beverages in large quantities won't do your body any favors. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for those drinks that shouldn’t be a part of a healthy diet - although enjoying some of them in moderation is fine.
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00:00 Can you hold my beer?
00:03 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for those drinks that shouldn't
00:07 be a part of a healthy diet, although enjoying some of them in moderation is fine.
00:12 A coke.
00:13 Grace, who's your coach?
00:16 My dad.
00:18 Number 20, iced tea.
00:23 What's wrong with iced tea?
00:25 Isn't it just hot brewed tea that's cooled down?
00:27 And isn't tea good for you?
00:29 Today I'm showing you how to make iced tea.
00:32 Well yes, in its simplest form, iced tea is just cooled tea, and it's true that many teas
00:37 have antioxidants and other beneficial properties.
00:39 The problem is that for most of us, that isn't the kind of iced tea we're drinking.
00:44 We're drinking bottled and canned iced tea, or making it from instant powdered mix.
00:48 You're saying no to fake, and yes to delicious tasting real fruit flavors.
00:53 And those don't have the same benefits.
00:56 The powdered mixes are often so processed that most if not all of the antioxidants are
01:00 lost.
01:01 Then there's all the added sugar, which depending on the brand, can be equivalent to the amount
01:06 found in a similar sized can of soda.
01:09 Cool to the core.
01:10 Number 19, orange drinks.
01:13 To be clear, we're not talking about orange juice here.
01:15 We're talking about orange drinks.
01:18 Orange juice, in its best and purest form, is freshly squeezed oranges.
01:22 Orange drink is a collection of ingredients, of which only a small portion if any comes
01:27 from actual oranges.
01:29 Just take a look at the ingredient list on an orange high C or Capri Sun.
01:33 So delicious and come in so many real fruit flavors.
01:36 That's why you love high C.
01:39 The first ingredient is water, and the second is sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
01:44 It isn't till the third item on the list that juice even gets mentioned.
01:48 And not only is it from concentrate, but it's a very small percentage of the drink.
01:53 The picture of the orange on the container has almost more nutritional value than the
01:57 actual drink inside.
02:00 Number 18, tomato juice.
02:02 Whether you call tomatoes a fruit or a vegetable doesn't change the fact that they're a good
02:06 source of fiber and many vitamins.
02:09 And if you want to cook and prepare your own tomato juice at home, then there can definitely
02:13 be some health benefits to said drink.
02:16 Absolutely delicious and so good for you.
02:18 However, if you prefer to purchase the canned stuff from your local grocery store, may we
02:22 kindly suggest you don't.
02:24 We get it so thick and rich by using our own special juice tomatoes.
02:28 Although you may see words on the can like no additives or 100% tomato juice, those statements
02:34 fail to mention the ridiculously high sodium content, as high as 43% of the daily recommended
02:40 value.
02:41 So if you're going to buy it, at least look at the low sodium options.
02:46 I got root.
02:47 Number 17, ginger beer.
02:50 While some ginger beers might have about 0.5% alcohol, that has nothing to do with why it
02:55 made our list.
02:57 Once again, the culprit is sugar.
02:59 While the ginger flavor is strong in ginger beer, sugar is often the second ingredient,
03:03 usually even before the ginger root or natural flavoring.
03:07 All we're going to do is mix in about a quarter cup of the ginger syrup with about one cup
03:14 of the soda water.
03:15 Now the truth is that ginger can be really good for you, and so we get the appeal of
03:19 ginger beer and its strong gingery taste.
03:22 However, more research is needed in order to see if the health benefits of actual ginger
03:26 translate to ginger beer.
03:28 But even if they do, check the nutrition label because some of them can contain up to 35
03:34 grams of sugar per serving, and that's a lot.
03:37 It doesn't actually have ginger on the ingredients label.
03:41 Number 16, eggnog.
03:43 Just the idea of eggnog brings up holiday images of sitting in the living room with
03:48 our families, a Christmas tree in the corner, and a fire in the fireplace.
03:53 Right from the carton.
03:54 It's made with lots of eggs, milk, and real sweet cream.
03:57 And while many of our diets and healthy choices go out the window for the holiday season,
04:02 eggnog is one choice you might still want to avoid, or at least choose in moderation.
04:07 Now everyone knows the best way to get the Christmas spirit is to drink a whole lot of
04:11 thick frothy eggnog.
04:13 If we're just talking calories, then with all that egg, cream, milk, and sugar, you're
04:17 looking at upwards of 350 to 400 calories and close to 20 grams of fat per cup for most
04:24 pre-made eggnogs.
04:25 And if you thought choosing the low-fat version was better, be warned that while the fat content
04:30 is lower, the amount of sugar is almost the same.
04:37 Number 15, sports drinks.
04:40 It's true that the electrolytes, sugars, and sodium in these drinks do provide strong
04:44 rehydration and replenishment after a really hard, sweat-inducing workout.
04:49 But be honest here.
04:50 How many of us are downing a Gatorade after training for the Olympic trials, and how many
04:55 of us are drinking it at lunch with our ham and cheese sandwich and a bag of Doritos?
05:02 And along with the higher-than-you-probably-knew amount of sugar in many of these sports drinks,
05:07 you might still also find some food dyes and artificial sweeteners in the low and no-sugar
05:13 versions.
05:14 Basically, what we're saying is, drink water.
05:19 Number 14, flavored milk.
05:22 Assuming you aren't intolerant to lactose, there is definitely some truth to the classic
05:26 slogan that "milk, it does a body good."
05:28 However, once you go ahead and add in flavors such as chocolate and strawberry, we probably
05:40 need to change the slogan to a much less appealing "milk, it does a body not so good."
05:45 Because while the chocolate or strawberry might increase the taste for some folks, it
05:49 also increases the number of calories and the amount of sugar you're putting into your
05:53 body as well.
05:54 And it could be even more if you use the powdered stuff and like to load in the extra spoonfuls
05:59 beyond the suggested serving size.
06:01 Milk was a bad choice!
06:06 Number 13, tonic water.
06:08 No, we sure aren't telling you to deny yourself the joys of a delicious gin and tonic every
06:13 now and then, assuming you are of legal drinking age of course.
06:17 However, while we would always preach moderation when it comes to alcohol, we're going to do
06:21 the same when it comes to the tonic water mixer also.
06:25 You might not have ever checked the nutritional label on a bottle of tonic water, but if you
06:29 had, you would have seen quite a bit of sugar on there, often over 30 grams for a 12-ounce
06:35 serving.
06:36 Depending on the number of G&Ts, that can add up quickly.
06:40 And yes, there are sugar-free options, but those can often have outrageously high sodium
06:45 numbers.
06:50 Number 12, protein shakes and powders.
06:54 Protein is an important part of building muscle and bone strength, as well as a number of
06:58 other functions in the body.
07:00 And it's true that many of us don't get enough protein in our daily diet, which makes a protein
07:04 shake an obvious option.
07:06 However, before you make that choice, you should be aware of a few things.
07:10 Be diligent about reading the ingredients, because many protein shakes and powders out
07:15 there are adding in lots of sugar and artificial flavors, which also equals more calories.
07:21 There have also been heavy metals and BPA found in some powders.
07:25 So if you're going to ingest protein shakes or powders, you should, to quote the ancient
07:29 knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, "choose wisely."
07:33 You must choose, but choose wisely.
07:37 Number 11, bubble tea.
07:39 Don't be fooled by the name into thinking it's good for you.
07:42 Yes, tea, especially green tea, has many health benefits.
07:47 And yes, bubble tea, also known as boba tea, does begin with a tea base.
07:52 However, the stuff that comes after the tea is where the delicious problems lie.
07:57 Starting with the bubbles themselves.
07:59 The tapioca pearls are totally fun and yummy, but they also contain a lot of sugar.
08:04 The USDA tells us that an 8-ounce basic bubble tea already has about 28 grams of sugar.
08:16 Then there are the toppings that so many of us get added on, like various jellies or puddings,
08:21 all of which add more sugar to the drink.
08:24 So don't make these a habit.
08:26 Number 10, energy drinks.
08:28 We could all use an energy boost every now and then, but that being said, energy drinks
08:33 aren't the way to do it.
08:34 Yes, they definitely work, and you'll get a short-term energy lift.
08:38 But those wings, as Red Bull likes to call them, don't last long and can have negative
08:43 effects on your health.
08:44 While the can of Red Bull has a little less caffeine than a cup of coffee, it's still
08:48 a good amount, and it comes with 27 grams of sugar as well.
08:52 You could go for sugar-free, but then you're just ingesting artificial sweeteners like
08:56 aspartame.
09:04 Energy drinks have also been known to cause digestive issues and irregular heart rhythms.
09:09 Wings aren't worth that, are they?
09:12 Number 9, blended tropical drinks.
09:17 Yes, we do like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.
09:22 However, while the latter just leads to wet clothes, the former can have a much more negative
09:26 effect on our persons.
09:28 It can vary based on specific ingredients, but did you know that a classic pina colada
09:32 can clock in at over 800 calories and 100 grams of sugar?
09:36 And a strawberry daiquiri can hit over 400 calories and around 70 grams of the sweet
09:41 stuff?
09:42 Sure, if you're on vacation, treat yourself to a blended tropical drink by the pool.
09:47 You deserve it.
09:48 But maybe stop at one or two, and try to avoid them when you get back home.
09:53 Number 8, vitamin-enhanced water.
09:56 Water is the best and most important liquid we can consume, and vitamins are great.
10:00 So you'd think that vitamin-enhanced water would be the most ultimate drink of all time.
10:05 Well, think again.
10:06 While these drinks do provide added vitamins and minerals, most of the extras they provide
10:10 are in the form of vitamins B and C, which most people get plenty of in their diet anyway.
10:21 Most of these vitamin water products also throw in quite a bit of sugar as well, almost
10:26 as much as a can of soda.
10:28 So instead of vitamin-enhanced waters, just take your vitamins and drink water.
10:32 "People do some crazy things to stay healthy."
10:35 Number 7, cranberry juice cocktail.
10:38 The key word here is cocktail, because there is a big difference between cranberry juice
10:43 and cranberry juice cocktail.
10:46 Our cranberry juice is 100% cranberries and has health benefits that include aiding in
10:51 the prevention of urinary tract infections.
10:53 "We blend our crisp, refreshing cranberries with the ripe, sweet taste of other fruit."
10:57 Whereas cranberry juice cocktail balances the tartness of the cranberries with a whole
11:02 bunch of added sugar, which we know by now is not good for you.
11:07 Cranberries can be an acquired taste, and if it's one that you haven't acquired, that's
11:11 fine, but don't try to get your cranberry intake via the cocktails, because the extra
11:15 sugars outweigh the benefits of the berries.
11:19 "Cranberry juice."
11:20 Number 6, bottled smoothies.
11:22 "We've made a fancy advert about how innocent super smoothies are packed full of good stuff."
11:27 The thing with smoothies is that the healthiness of them is completely reliant on what's
11:31 in them.
11:32 If you make them yourself and throw in some spinach, chia seeds, some plain low-fat yogurt
11:37 and a banana, then you've got yourself a very healthy drink.
11:40 However, if you prefer the convenience of picking up a bottled smoothie from your local
11:44 grocery store, then you probably aren't getting as much healthiness as you'd think.
11:49 You might see that your bottled smoothie has some nice fruit and veggies in it, but look
11:52 a little closer and you could be drinking up to 400 calories and 75 grams of sugar.
11:58 Kinda negates the value of the few fruits and veggies they put in there, doesn't it?
12:02 "Drinking a smoothie with no vegetable nutrition."
12:06 Number 5, fruit punch.
12:08 There are those that caution against drinking too much fruit juice, given the sugar levels,
12:13 but at least pure fruit juice does provide some vitamins and nutrients, depending on
12:17 the fruit, and the sugars are naturally occurring from the fruit as well.
12:21 "How about a nice Hawaiian crunch?"
12:23 However, fruit punch isn't 100% fruit juice.
12:27 Instead, it's usually a mix of various fruit juices from concentrates and lots of sugar.
12:33 Fruit might be in the name, but in many of the fruit punches you find on store shelves,
12:38 the ingredient that comes before the concentrated juices is none other than the unhealthiness
12:43 that is high fructose corn syrup.
12:45 "That's Hawaiian punch."
12:47 "He adores Hawaiian punch."
12:51 Number 4, milkshake.
12:53 While Khaleesa's milkshake brought all the boys to the yard, an actual milkshake will
12:58 bring plenty of sugar and saturated fats to your body.
13:02 Given that milkshakes are made with milk and ice cream and often include extras like whipped
13:06 cream and other sugary toppings, you probably didn't think they were the healthiest thing
13:10 in the world anyway.
13:11 "Celebrate with Minty Shamrock shakes and new Minty Shamrock sundaes right now at McDonald's."
13:16 However, they might be worse for you than you think.
13:19 The exact numbers will vary, but as an example, the vanilla milkshake from Chick-fil-A comes
13:24 in at 580 calories, 23 grams of fat, 390 milligrams of sodium, and 80 grams of sugar.
13:33 You'd be lucky if you could even make it to the yard after all that.
13:37 "I drink your milkshake."
13:41 Number 3, sweetened coffee drinks.
13:44 So you like to start your day with a cup of coffee?
13:46 Join the club!
13:48 There's even evidence suggesting that a moderate amount of coffee per day can actually have
13:52 positive benefits to one's health.
13:54 However, the same cannot be said for all of those fancy, sweetened drinks you might be
13:58 downing on your way to work instead of a simple black coffee.
14:02 You know that caramel, ribbon-crunch Frappuccino you pick up at Starbucks every morning or
14:06 on your lunch break?
14:08 While it is delicious, it also contains 470 calories, 60 grams of sugar, and 22 grams
14:15 of fat.
14:16 "You know what could really help you sort through these important issues?"
14:19 "What?"
14:20 "ORANGE MOCHA FRAPPUCCINO!"
14:24 To put that into perspective, on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, the FDA recommends no more than 50 grams
14:30 of added sugar.
14:32 Number 2, alcohol.
14:34 The interesting thing about alcohol is that depending on how much you drink, it can find
14:39 itself close to the top of this list or over on a list of healthy drinks.
14:43 While the idea of moderation is hard to pin down, the current governmental guidelines
14:48 in the United States puts the acceptable amount at 1-2 drinks per day for men and 1 for women.
14:54 "A Corona and calm seas."
14:56 "And a bomb breeze."
14:58 "And some long knees."
14:59 And these numbers are very important, because while low to moderate alcohol intake can actually
15:04 reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular causes, drinking above the recommended levels
15:09 increases one's risk of heart attack and stroke.
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15:31 Number 1, soda.
15:40 Go to the kitchen, grab the sugar and a teaspoon.
15:43 Now take 9 helpings of the sugar.
15:46 You see all that?
15:47 That is about how much sugar you're downing in just one 12-ounce soda.
15:52 Delicious type 2 diabetes in a can.
15:54 "That is one dirty soda, Santa."
15:57 Not to mention the 150 or so calories that you're also taking in and the fact that there
16:02 is little nutritional value to any of it.
16:05 But wait, what about diet sodas?
16:07 Yes, these do solve the sugar and calories issues, but replace them with artificial sweetener
16:13 problems in the form of aspartame, cyclamates, saccharin, acesulfame K, or sucralose.
16:26 Which of these drinks would be the easiest for you to give up and which would be the
16:30 hardest?
16:31 Let us know in the comments.
16:45 "
16:51 "