Why popular ‘weight-loss’ drinks WON’T work for you
It’s been almost 6 months of voluntary and inevitable house arrest, thanks to the pandemic! And everything to do with your life seems to be a downhill race (perhaps, other than your weight!) First off, HUGS! Well, let’s ditch the guilt of having totally forgotten what a ‘normal’ healthy/unhealthy lifestyle looked like. Right now, I know, the ONLY health goal most of us have, is just ONE – to NOT get infected with COVID-19! So, why am I even talking about ‘weight-loss’ drinks now?
Well, ever since our stand-off with the COVID virus officially began in March this year with the government imposing restraining lockdowns in succession, life became an avant-garde. For many of us, prayers for long leaves felt granted. The excitement of ‘family’ time over cubicle anxiety seemed to have finally won. But, all of this euphoria came crashing down within just like…days.
How?
Work-from-Home became Work-For-Home-while-screaming-at-your-kids-and-surviving-on-coffee-shots.
Quality sleep came only while napping at bizarre timings of the day.
Home-cooked food came with choice than with a routine.
But…
What on earth happened to EXERCISE?
Are you working out? Am I eating right?
Or are we just living off NetFlix, popcorns and wine after tiring hours on Zoom?
A lot of us look way different from what we looked like before COVID happened (apart from the bushy brows and upper lip hair, BTW!) I really do not have the sample set, but, for now, a lot of folks have been struggling with:
- Bloating
- Weight gain
- Acne or other skin problems
- Headache
- Eye bags
- Stress
- Frustration
- Anxiety
Coming to this period, unlike what we’re getting to see on our Instagram feed and suggestions, weight management has been quite an ordeal for many of us. On the contrary, despite having ‘sufficient’ time to dedicate to one’s fitness while getting to stay at home isn’t helping much. Come on, let’s be honest! I know, it’s getting damn hard.
At the same time, those, who have been eyeing weight loss since really very long, are also succumbing to preposterous concept of weight-loss drinks.
Well, do these ‘weight-loss’ drinks that we’ve known to help lose that extra weight, ACTUALLY work?
Let’s find out!
1. The Honey & Water drink
This elixir has been known since ages to burn fat and enhance metabolism. Honey comes with some great anti-bacterial properties too. But remember that honey does amount to adding calories as well.
If you are looking for something ‘healthier’ to swap with sugary sodas or packaged juices, honey water may be a good choice. However, there’s no significant study revealing that honey can ‘melt’ fat.
2. Green Tea (the commercial topper in weight-loss drinks)
It contains Polyphenol antioxidants that prevent cell damage. Over the recent years, it’s commercial popularity as a metabolism-booster is quite vouched for by many.
Nevertheless, as per a recent review around the role of green tea in helping overweight/obese people with weight loss, it has been found that it was not a significant one to substantiate as clinically established.
3. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Yes. Apart from regulating blood sugar, cholesterol and even hormonal disturbances like PCOS, ACV has proven to actually help obese people (based on controlled tests on fairly large groups) to some extent. But, we’ll discuss the terms a little below as you read. 🙂
4. Warm Lemon water
Lemon water, of course, is a great low-calorie alternative to high-calorie drinks if you’re trying to lose weight. It’s known that lemon reeks of Vitamin C and likewise, lemon water increases the absorption of Iron from food.
But, scientifically, it is not much different from the normal drinking water. One way it can help you is by motivating you to keep yourself hydrated with liquids in some form or the other.
If Vitamin C is your defense to this not-so-fancy idea of infusing the vitamin with weight-loss drinks, the experts always warrant that you can consume Vit C in various other ways. Something as ordinary as having citrus fruits directly or sprinkling lemon juice on your salads. It doesn’t necessarily have to be warm lemon water.
5. Ginger Tea
Of course!
Ginger Tea has always made it to the top list of weight-loss drinks. We all know how ginger tea can lace its effectiveness out at digestive problems that hinder chances of weight-loss. It is particularly this property that makes it ideal to consume while aiming for fat-loss. Because, it boosts digestion, thereby speeding up metabolism as well.
It also can act as an anti-inflammatory concoction which enhances your immunity. What else do I say, when a large number of Indians find even the smell of ginger-infused chai extremely therapeutic and stress-busting!
BUT. If had in excess, it can trigger heartburn, diarrhea or other forms of abdominal discomfort.
6. Coffee / Black Coffee
For ages, black coffee has been regarded as one of the best ways to boost metabolism, hence lose fat easily.
However, caffeine can also lead to dehydration that works counter-productively on your weight-loss efforts All the more, studies show that coffee, when consumed predominantly as a pre-workout drink, can pave way to cardiovascular complications.
While the benefits and ‘role’ of any of these drinks in weight-loss cannot be denied for sure, we need to understand one concept that’s the hero behind the science of weight-loss A.K.A FAT-LOSS.
However effective they be, you must remember that these weight-loss drinks cannot yield any results independetly.
What works then?
A successful weight loss journey is largely governed by the consistent maintenance of CALORIE DEFICIT.
If you actually are aiming to lose excess weight (fat), you must primarily aim at:
- Strength Training, where you lose fat & gain muscle pretty much simultaneously.
2. Enough Intake of fluids/water
3. Balanced food composition consisting of carbs, proteins, fats, vitamins & fiber.
And…
4. Exercise is an irreplaceable component of weight-loss. Regardless of the consistency at your calorie-deficit through diet, your results aren’t going to be sustainable in the long run, neither healthy even if you manage to lose a substantial amount of weight. The downside remains that you’re likely to lose essential muscle mass than the unwanted flab you’re trying to get rid of. And this could boomerang at your health in the long run; in the form of chronic fatigue, decreased immunity, poor skin health & premature ageing.
I’d love if your share your weight-loss experience in the comments (if any) 🙂 mentioning how a certain combination of those healthy drinks worked in your favor in a sustainable manner.
Disclaimer:
The information published in this post is based completely around supporting research conclusions & also my own experience with weight-loss under the guidance of a certified dietitian & trainer. This must not be treated as a substitute for medical advice or recommendation.
I would always suggest you to consult your nutritionist or physician if you plan to make significant changes to your diet & fitness routine.
To be honest, I have never bought into any of these weight loss miracles. Having said that, I don’t think I do anything extra for my upkeep which is not a good thing. I’m so exhausted at the end of every day and my routine is so packed that I hardly find time to exercise. Truth be told, I don’t have the inclination for it too. At the start of the lockdown though I had started going for dancing sessions because that is one thing I enjoy. But then the pandemic happened and at home, I couldn’t continue. But I hope I can pick that up again. Weight loss or not, I need to work towards being healthy as I’m not getting any younger :). And thank you for this reminder.
Oh yes, Nabanita. The lockdown is getting extremely draining with every passing day. It has come with a huge share of toil & mental overwhelm along with monumental challenges to physical fitness.
Hence, no matter what form of movement we engage in right now given our limitations, it is imperative ATM. I’ve always found that apart from reading, music & writing, no matter how cramped I am with work, even a 10 mins session of brisk walk/jog feels emotionally liberating.
We’re all in this together. And hope the world doesn’t have to undergo anything of this pandemic at least the next year.
Very good pointers, Ashvini. I’ve not been the one who goes for fad diets or weight-reducing drinks but I believe staying hydrated, following a healthy wake-up/bedtime routine and regularly exercising are some of the things that definitely work at all times.
Definitely agree with you! We need a well balanced diet, some exercise and enough sleep for staying healthy and losing weight. I did drink Green Tea but not because of weight loss. The machine made tea in office was horrible. So Green Tea it was 😀
At the beginning of the work from home scene because of the pandemic, I did try to be regular with some exercise. But these days it is getting increasingly difficult considering the crazy deadlines and the crazy working hours 🙁
I agree to your round up… a well balanced diet along with exercise year round is what the body needs in the long term.
I agree with you, Ashvini. A well balanced diet and exercise are much more important for good health than giving into the fad of weight loss drinks. I need my black coffee to wake up in the morning and green tea because it refreshes me. Never looked at these as weight loss aids!
Drinking will keep you hydrated, but drinking to lose weight is a ‘too good to be true’ scenario. I did try a couple of drinks from this list, of course, I didn’t lose any weight, but they helped in reducing bloating. I agree with you, Ashvini, we need to eat a balanced diet and work out to keep us healthy.
Agree 100 %. Losing weight or fat needs a well-balanced diet and regular exercise covering strength and cardio. I love green tea though, ? love its freshness and how it makes me feel.
I do drink green tea and ginger tea but not for weight loss. There is no substitute for exercise and a good, balanced diet, is there?