JEDDAH: Many people think that natural juices are 100 percent healthy, and that only artificial juices cause obesity. However, experts say that both kinds possess high levels of calories.

A website recently discussed twelve drink varieties that people should avoid drinking due to their significant calorific content, meaning that they require extensive physical activity in order to burn. The first such beverage is fresh juice, as the one cup contains 150 calories. Instead, experts advise that people should simply eat fresh fruit for breakfast, instead of juice as the fibre contained in the skin and flesh helps the body to digest the sugar content.

Second, experts noted that Frappuccino coffees with cream, caramel and chocolate additions can contain more than 1,000 calories each, meaning that people should also avoid these sugary drinks.

Soft drinks also featured high on the list of no-no drinks, as just one cup could include as much as thirteen spoonfuls of sugar. They also recommended that sweetened milk and juice cocktails be avoided.

Interestingly, the experts noted that protein drinks that athletes make from a powder can contain high levels of sugar and additional nutrition the human body does not need if one is already eating a balanced diet. Instead, they recommended that it is better that people who partake in sports activities drink water and natural milk or yogurt instead of protein drinks or any other athlete drinks which contain high rates of sodium and potassium.

Finally, the experts warned that people should be wary of all drinks labeled "sugar free", due to the chemicals that often are used to replace the sweet taste, such as in iced tea and flavored mineral waters, which may seem harmless from the outside.