Soda Falls Flat
Digesting food and drink is calorie-burning work; it’s called the “thermic effect.” But sugary soft drinks cause less calorie burn than beverages that contain a blend of nutrients. Researchers at New York City’s St. Luke Hospital gave 20 patients either sugar water or a beverage containing a mixture of protein, fat and carbohydrate, like chocolate milk. “The mixed-nutrient beverage resulted in a thermic effect 36% greater than that of the sugar drink,” says study author Marie-Pierre St.-Onge, Ph.D. The combo drink took more energy to digest, which increased calorie burn by 23 calories. That may not sound like much, but it could add up to pounds over a year’s time.
