The No-Brainer Way to Cut Calories

Can you guess what percentage of calories Americans consume that
come from what they drink? Three percent? Ten? No, try twenty percent!
Yes, that's right, one-fifth of the calories we take in come from
liquids.

Here is a no-brainer way to begin to cut back on your
caloric intake: Stop drinking sodas (even diet), juices, mega-sized
"health" smoothies with 120 grams of sugar in them, whipped coffee
drinks, iced tea loaded with corn syrup, and all those sport and
vitamin drinks that are actually filled with sugar and calories.

What's the magic word? Water. Okay, if you love a cup of java in the
morning, then get it. Try to avoid all the extras with it, and if
you're looking for a pick-me-up in the middle of the day, have an
unsweetened green tea instead of a soda or energy drink.

Otherwise,
try your best to stick with the water, and if it gets too boring, add a
splash of cranberry juice or a slice of lemon to mix it up. Getting
enough water can help us in our quest for better health in so many ways:

• Flush out toxins
• Reduce your risk of heart attack
• Help with joint and muscle pain
• Boost your metabolic rate
• Improve organ function
• Keep you regular
• Prevent headaches
• Promote healthy skin
• Regulate body temperature
• Get energized and improve alertness

Wow,
you can kill two birds with one stone: Cut out unwanted calories and do
something good for yourself in the meantime. I don't know about you,
but if I'm going to have a bunch of sugar or calories I want it to be
something I have to chew -- preferably chocolate. Waste it on some
drink? No way.