HOUSTON – With the triple-digit temperatures in Houston this week, many residents will be reaching for various drinks to try and stay hydrated. However, not all refreshments are created equal when it comes to trying to beat the heat.
KPRC 2′s Brittany Begley spoke with Catherine Kruppa, a licensed dietitian and wellness coach with over 20 years of experience.
Kruppa said that, while ice cream may be enticing on a hot day, its negatives far outweigh the benefits.
“It has a little calcium, but that’s about it,” Kruppa said. “It has a lot of sugar and a lot of fat. Having a fruit smoothie would be a much better choice, where you can put strawberries, and bananas and milk, and that kind of thing in it. You’re getting a nutritious cold drink, versus something that has very little nutritional value.”
Sports drinks and energy drinks are also popular selections on a hot day, but those might be a mistake too. The sugar and sodium content in these beverages makes them detrimental to your health.
“They’re really full of a lot of sugar, like as much sugar as a soda,” Kruppa said.