13 Popular Drinks Ranked From Least to Most Harmful

Is your go-to drink negatively impacting your health? You might be drinking fluids, thinking you are hydrating, when you are actually harming your body. The British Heart Foundation recently ranked 13 drinks, best to worst, and some of their findings might surprise you. Body Network’s Resident RDN, The Diet DivaTara Collingwood, also weighs in.

13. Water

Water is unsurprisingly the healthiest drink, “hydrating, inexpensive and sugar-free,” says the BHF. “Obviously, the BEST way to hydrate! No calories, pure and refreshing,” adds Body Network’s Resident RDN, Tara Collingwood, MS, RDN, CSSD, LD/N, ACSM-CPT, a Board Certified Sports Dietitian and co-author of the Flat Belly Cookbook for Dummies. “You can add a squeeze of lemon, orange, lime, etc. to flavor it if you like.

12. Tea or Coffee Without Sugar

The next best option is tea or coffee without sugar. “Calorie-free and flavorful with a hit of caffeine for those who are looking for a pick me up,” says Collingwood. “Of course, you can also choose decaf versions of them as well,” she adds. A bonus? “Coffee and tea are also both a source of antioxidants.”

11. Sugar-Free Drinks

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Sugar-free drinks, including sugar-free cola and sugar-free lemonade, are next on the list. “Calorie-free but have lots of flavor, sugar-free drinks can hydrate just the same as water, especially if they are caffeine-free,” says Collingwood.

10. Fruit Juice

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Fruit juice is the fourth healthiest drink. “100% fruit juices don’t have any added sugar and typically are a good source of various vitamins and minerals, especially Vitamin C,” says Collingwood. “You don’t need a large serving size to get the nutritional value. Just 4 to 8 ounces can provide a one-half-cup to one cup serving of fruit for the day. Fruit juice won’t have the fiber that whole fruit has, but it can still be part of a healthy diet to contribute a serving of fruit,” she explains.

9. Tea or Coffee with Sugar

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Number five is tea or coffee with sugar. “The added sugar contributes calories without a lot of nutritional value,” Collingwood says. “Just a teaspoon of sugar won’t add too much-added sugar, but be careful with fancy coffee drinks with pumps of syrup that can contribute a lot of added sugar very quickly.”

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8. Fruit Juice with Added Sugar

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Fruit juice with added sugar is also an okay option. “You will still get the benefits of fruit juice from the vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, but the added sugar contributes more calories, and it is not overly filling,” Collingwood says.

7. Squash with Added Sugar

Squash, a non-alcoholic beverage with syrup used in beverage making with added sugar, is a so-so option. “This is not an American thing,” notes Collinwood. “With added sugar, it definitely will be high in calories and without a lot of nutritional value.”

6. Fizzy Drinks with Added Sugar

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You might want to stay away from fizzy drinks with added sugar. Collingwood notes that they have “no nutritional value (or very little) with a lot of added sugar which contributes empty calories,” she says.

5. Tonic Water

Tonic water is not a great option. “Traditional tonic water has sugar and is similar to the fizzy drinks above,” says Collingwood. “No nutritional value and empty calories. Better to choose diet tonic for a calorie-free version.”

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4. Cola with Sugar

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Cola with sugar is another no-no for many of the same reasons: High in calories and low in nutritional value. “Better to choose ‘zero’ or diet version for calorie-free,” says Collingwood.

3. Energy Drink

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While energy drinks “vary quite a bit by brand,” if they have sugar, you should stay away. However, sugar-free drinks aren't great for you. “A source of a lot of caffeine, and many have B vitamins. Many brands make claims that the B Vitamins provide energy, but really the energy is ‘false energy’ coming from the large amount of caffeine,” says Collingwood.

2. Hot Chocolate or Coffee with Sugar and Whipped Cream

Hot chocolate or coffee drinks with lots of sugar or whipped cream should be avoided. “Very calorie dense with a lot of sugar and could also have a good deal of fat depending on the milk or cream used,” says Collingwood.

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1. Ice Cream Milkshakes

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And last but not least, ice cream milkshakes should be avoided. “Extremely calorie dense from the sugar and fat in the ice cream without a lot of nutritional value,” says Collingwood. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 20 Superfoods for People Over 50.

We all want to eat healthier, but sometimes, the foods we think are good for us can actually be harmful. Dr. Eric Berg, DC, a 59-year-old nutrition expert, discusses the truth about getting healthy and losing weight in his popular video. As the director of Dr. Berg's Nutritionals and a best-selling Amazon author, Dr. Berg specializes in Healthy Ketosis and Intermittent Fasting. With his wealth of knowledge, he's identified seven common foods that you should avoid to optimize your health and well-being.

1. Orange Juice: Not as Healthy as You Think

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"Orange juice might shock you," says Dr. Berg in his video. "They pasteurize it, destroying much of its nutritional value. It's essentially sugar water that spikes your blood sugar." Dr. Berg explains that the heating process kills enzymes and nutrients, leaving you with little benefit.

Body Network’s Resident RDN, Tara Collingwood, agrees. “Whole fruit is much better than juice because you get the fiber to keep you full longer,” she says.

2. Soy Protein Isolates: A Hidden Danger

Many vegetarian products and protein shakes contain soy protein isolates. However, Dr. Berg warns in his video, "This is really not a natural food for humans. It's not fermented, doesn't do well in our bodies, and actually irritates the liver."

While soy protein is often praised for its health benefits, there are some concerns about its potential negative effects. According to Harvard Health, some soy products contain estrogen-like chemicals that could have adverse effects. Specifically, soy isoflavones, which are compounds found in soy, have estrogen-like properties that can bind to estrogen receptors in the body. This has led to concerns about potential disruptions to natural hormone levels.

3. High Fructose Corn Syrup: The Sneaky Sugar

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Found in sodas, drinks, and even salad dressings, high fructose corn syrup is a filler you should avoid. Dr. Berg identifies this as a "given" in the list of foods to never eat.

"High fructose corn syrup has crept into more of our foods over the last few decades. Compared with regular sugar, it’s cheaper and sweeter, and is more quickly absorbed into your body. But eating too much high fructose corn syrup can lead to insulin resistance, obesity, Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure," warns Cleveland Clinic.

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4. Commercial Meats with Nitrates: A Cancer Risk

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"When you buy bacon or sausage or meats, make sure it's nitrate-free," advises Dr. Berg in his video. He points out that studies have linked nitrates to cancer. Opt for grass-fed, paleo, and hormone-free options instead.

"Nitrates and nitrites prevent bacterial growth and give deli meat its distinctive color and flavor. But there’s a downside. Nitrates convert to nitrites, and when nitrites interact with protein, that creates compounds called nitrosamines—which may cause cancer,” says Consumer Reports.

5. Commercial Milk: Hormones in Your Glass

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Dr. Berg in his video recommends choosing organic or at least hormone-free milk. He explains, "There's a little hormone called RBST, which has some negative effects on the body."

According to the Harvard Gazette, there are concerns about the presence of hormones in commercial milk. Specifically, cow’s milk contains significant amounts of female sex hormones, such as estrogen, which have been linked to hormone-dependent cancers like those of the testes, prostate, and breast.

6. TV Dinners: A Nutritional Nightmare

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"TV dinners and pot pies are very low-quality food," says Dr. Berg in his video. He warns that combining protein, starch, and dessert in one meal can cause a massive insulin spike.

According to the BBC, TV dinners often contain high levels of sodium, sugar, and additives, which can contribute to health issues such as obesity, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. Additionally, ultra-processed foods, which include many TV dinners, have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, diabetes, and strokes.

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7. Imported Fruit: Potential Pesticide Problems

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Dr. Berg in his video cautions against fruit from certain countries. "There's a chance they might use DDT, which is banned in America but still sold to other countries," he explains. This exposure can be particularly harmful to children.

"Of the 100 individual fruit or vegetable samples in our analysis with the highest pesticide risk levels, 65 were imported. Most of those – 52 – came from Mexico, and the majority involved strawberries (usually frozen) or green beans (nearly all contaminated with acephate, the pesticide that's prohibited for use on green beans headed to the US)," The Guardian, reported based on a comprehensive pesticide analysis conducted by Consumer Reports.

By avoiding these seven foods, you can take a significant step towards improving your overall health and nutrition. Remember, being informed about what you eat is the first step to a healthier you. And if you enjoyed this article, take advantage of these 15 Quick Ways to Lose Body Fat Percentage in a Week.