56 December 2015 www.womanthismonth.com LIFESTYLE | wellbeing Trailing the aisles of the supermarkets after a tiring day makes it easy to fall prey to edible demons. However, not if you know better. Danah Quintana, clinical dietician at Bahrain Specialist Hospital, explains how what we put in our cart determines our overall wellbeing. BOISTEROUS BEVERAGES Aerated drinks: Thirsty? Chances are you’ll be reaching for that shiny can of fizz more often than good old H2O. “People who consume sugary drinks regularly – one to two cans a day or more – have a 26 per cent greater risk of developing Type 2 diabetes than people who rarely have such drinks,” says Danah. She also tells us that a study which followed 40,000 men for two decades found those who averaged one can of a sugary beverage per day had a 20 per cent higher risk of suffering a fatal heart attack than men who rarely consumed sugary drinks. Women showed a similar sugary beverageheart disease link. What’s more, downing cans of soft drinks increases your risk of gout, a severely painful and sore condition. Energy drinks: These cleverly marketed ‘pickme-ups’ promise an instant burst of vigour, but are actually caffeine-loaded killers. Danah says: “The risks associated with energy drinks among young people have largely gone unaddressed and are poised to become a significant public health problem in the future.” An overdose of caffeine can lead to a number of symptoms, including palpitations, high blood pressure, nausea and vomiting, convulsions and, in some cases, even death. She cites that indiscriminate consumption of energy drinks can have devastating effects – Type 2 diabetes, miscarriage, low birth weight and stillbirths in pregnant women and neurological and cardiovascular disorders in children and adolescents. Ironically, these ‘sporty’ drinks cause obesity. Packaged fruit juices: If you want to pat yourself on the back for choosing fruit juice instead of fizzy drinks; hold your horses! “Fruit juice is not a better option. Even though it has more nutrients, it contains as much sugar and calories as soft drinks. So stick to no more than a small glass (four to six ounces) a day,” says Danah. She favours enjoying a whole piece of fruit, which is lower in sugar and contains the added benefit of fibre. What Not to Eat In this era of health ‘musts’, we are bombarded with guidelines on what we must do to achieve optimum wellness. On a different note, Behnaz Sanjana looks into what we must steer clear of to end this year and start the new one on the right note.
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