Rethink your drink: juice counts as a sugary drink

Health Canada's dietary guidelines found that sugary drinks were a main source of total sugars in Canadians' diets, and drinking them may increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Health Canada's list of sugary drinks may surprise you:

• Fruit juice, including 100% juice
• Sweetened plant-based beverages and sweetened milks like chocolate milk
• Sweetened coffees, teas, hot chocolate and specialty drinks
• Sports drinks, energy drinks and iced tea
• Soft drinks, fruit-flavoured drinks and punches
• Flavoured waters with added sugars

Better everyday choices:

• Water: plain, sparkling or with fruit and herbs
• Unsweetened lower fat milk or unsweetened fortified soy beverage
• Unsweetened coffee or tea
• Whole fruit instead of juice

Notice when you tend to reach for a sugary drink: when you're thirsty, eating out, on a coffee break, celebrating or being active. Having a water plan for those moments makes the switch easier.

Try this today: Pick one sugary drink you have regularly and swap it for water or an unsweetened option for the rest of the week.

Sources

• Canada's food guide: Sugary drinks (opens in a new tab)
• Canada's Dietary Guidelines, Section 2: Foods and beverages that undermine healthy eating (opens in a new tab)
• Canada's food guide: Make water your drink of choice (opens in a new tab)