Your Health

Foods and drinks to avoid

Sugary drinks

The old adage "the bigger, the better" is definitely not true when it comes to sugary drinks. A twolitre soda can carry as much as 50 plus teaspoons of sugar and over 1,000 calories. A can of pop contains 10 teaspoons of sugar on average. Eating large amounts of empty calories makes you irritable and tired, and takes the place of more nutritious foods.

Chocolate bars and candy

The old saying about a certain bar being a nice light snack is not always the case. Some chocolate bars contain 110 "empty" calories, while others can contain 200 to 270 calories. "Calories are considered to be empty when they don't do anything for you nutrition-wise," says Lorna Shaw-Hoeppner. "Moderation is the key - enjoying the occasional decadent piece of chocolate as part of a healthy lifestyle is not going to harm your health."

Fast food

The big burgers at some fast-food joints can weigh in at as much as 460 to 500 calories. Fried foods, french fries, potato chips and other deep-fried foods are also heavy with calories.

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	About Wave Wave is published six times a year by the Winnipeg Health Region in cooperation with the Winnipeg Free Press. It is available at newsstands, hospitals and clinics throughout Winnipeg, as well as McNally Robinson Books. Read the Fall 2009 issue of Wave