9 Drinking Habits Making You Gain Weight

Drinking sweetened tea

Some teas can alleviate nausea, reduce your risk of diabetes, and possibly help you live longer. On the other hand, sweet tea or hot tea with a lot of sugar may cause more damage than good.

Choosing sugary, flavored coffee

The next time you visit Starbucks, you might want to order a low-calorie beverage rather than one of the drinks that nutritionists believe to be the worst on the menu, which can include sweet, flavored coffee.

Choosing the wrong water enhancements

Vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes are added to enhanced water. Though they may look healthier than water, Time said that "[m]ost of the claims are marketing ploys to sell water at a higher price," but "are not about scientific evidence, and not about the public's health."

Drinking sports drinks

Sports drinks appear to be a healthy beverage alternative. However, if you are not an athlete or do not engage in strenuous physical exercise, you may want to leave them on the store shelves.

Drinking sugary fruit juice

"Fruit juices have a higher glycemic index (GI) than fresh, whole fruits, so they spike the GI faster," Gervacio explains when laying down the issue. 

Not getting enough protein in your smoothies

"Moderate protein is necessary to build lean muscles and increase satiety while losing fat," Experts states. "There is nothing wrong with consuming low-protein smoothies because protein can still be obtained from other foods.

Drinking soda

"Soda has a lot of added sugar, which not only contributes to calories, but also enhances appetite," explains Experts. She further points out that "a 12-ounce portion contributes to about 150 calories with 37 grams of sugar and no protein or fiber."

Regularly consuming too much alcohol

"Like the other drinks mentioned, alcohol can pack calories," he adds. Further, "Drinking alcohol regularly can make you feel sluggish and less likely to engage in physical activity," "disrupt the metabolism," and "interfere with sleep," adding that "a lack of sleep or poor sleep quality is linked to weight gain."

Drinking high-calorie beer

Even if you strive to limit your alcohol use, alcoholic beverages can still have an impact on your health and weight if you don't order a low-calorie brew.