Orange juice, vanilla lattes, energy drinks, sweet teas, lemonade—yum, right? Of course…so long as you don’t have all of them, every single day! Too many drinks with added sugar or artificial sweetener can cause weight gain, increased risk of diabetes, and higher potential for heart disease over time. Unfortunately, these types of drinks are everywhere you turn—vending machines, dining hall dispensers, your dorm common room—and you’re more likely to lean on them for an energy boost when the post–chem lab slump hits.
The next time you start to reach for a sugary beverage, choose still or sparkling water, or a drink sweetened with stevia, instead. Work toward making these changes whenever you can. Then, on the days when you really need a lift, you want a reward for finishing a challenging assignment, or you are simply craving the taste of a certain sweet drink, you can treat yourself without the guilt.