5 Starbucks Drinks That Don’t Have Excessive Sugar and the Top 5 Antioxidant Rich Drinks
5 Starbucks Drinks That Don’t Have Excessive Sugar – Avoid Coffee Mixed With Too Much Sugar
For heaps of people, having a cup of coffee to start their day, and then again some more during the course of the day is just part of any normal day. Over 60% of Americans claim to start their day with a cup of coffee. And whilst coffee does contain some antioxidants and can even reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke, dieticians reckon that many people have no idea as to the negative impacts drinking a lot of coffee can have on people. This is particularly when that plain cup of Joe gets converted into the sugary lattés or the blended drinks. Many of the fancy Starbucks drinks are soaked in extra sugar and calories which can cause major hormone imbalances in the body, let alone contributing to the obesity epidemic which we know to be at record highs.
5 Starbucks Drinks That Don’t Have Excessive Sugar –The Famous Frappuccino
We all know that the Starbucks Unicorn Frappuccino which was made for Instagram fame and fanfare, followed by others such as The Mermaid Frappuccino was the real rage. But have a closer look at the ‘Unicorn’ drink. Did you know that it contains around 410 calories with 59 grams of sugar in a Grande of 16 ounces? If you need to make a comparison, a 16 ounce Coca-Cola contains 190 calories with 52 grams of sugar thrown in. The Unicorn way exceeds what nutritionists would consider acceptable levels of calories and sugars in a beverage. And the Unicorn isn’t the ‘worst’ one either. Look at the S’mores Frappuccino – it consists of 490 calories and 67 grams of sugar in the 16-ounce Grande serving!
5 Starbucks Drinks That Don’t Have Excessive Sugar – Frappucino with less sugar for a better health
A study completed in 2016 and published in the JAMA Internal Medicine publication states that if a person’s calorie intake on a daily basis consists of 25% more sugar, then their risk of perishing from heart disease actually doubles compared to diets that consist of less than 10% sugar. Other diseases that sugar detrimentally affects are insulin resistance, pancreatic cancer, liver failure, and of course obesity. Registered nutritionists/dieticians say that by drinking the high-calorie Starbucks beverages, you cause the blood glucose to spike up which can increase problems like insulin resistance, associated with diseases like type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, a Starbucks spokesperson has said that Starbucks is now committed to reducing their added sugar in some of the indulgent beverages by 25% by end 2020, but that ultimately consumers have the responsibility of making their own nutritional choices. Look at these 5 drinks you can enjoy though, with less sugar. Here are more to check out later if you want to stay slim.
- Teavana Shaken Ice Passion Tango Tea.
You should ask for the non-sweetened version of this delightful fruity drink. As it already contains plenty of zest, you will not need sugar or syrup.
- Iced coffee
This Starbuck’s summer staple drink comes in an unsweetened version with no sugar and no calories. The sweetened version is 60 calories with 15 g of sugar. Just adding some whole milk to your unsweetened ice coffee is just a mere 30 calories with 2 g sugar.
- Americano
If you love the steamed milk you get in a latte but love the pick-me-up of the expresso and want to cut back on calories, the Americano with steamed milk can be a real favorite at Starbucks.
- Mint Majesty Hot Tea
Any of the herbal teas contain 0 calories and have plenty of antioxidants. The Starbucks mint tea has a really refreshing taste, not only delicious but proving health benefits for the GI system and gut. Not only do you cut back on sugar, but if you are trying to cut down on caffeine as well, this is the ideal drink.
- Brewed Chai Tea with a Splash of Steamed Milk
A tall Chai Tea Latté would have 42 g sugar and contain 240 calories and 45 g carbs; more sugar than what is needed in a day plus the carbs. But if you rather opt for your brewed hot chai tea, asking for steamed skim milk instead, you cut right down to only 30 calories!
It is possible if you want to slim down and cut your sugar intake, that you can still find what you are looking for at your favorite Starbucks – that’s good news! Can we drink to that?
Now that you know how to stay slim even while going to drink your favorite drink at Starbucks, let’s talk about useful drinks that will give you a dream body and an iron health!
Top 5 Antioxidant Rich Drinks
Let’s go from junk drink to good and healthy drinks for your body. Antioxidant rich drinks are a fantastic way to fill up on these powerful nutrients while also staying hydrated. By drinking antioxidant drinks regularly, you can protect your body’s cells against dangerous free radicals, reduce your risk of contracting chronic diseases and enjoy optimal health. In this article I’ll be taking a look at five of the best fluid sources of antioxidants.
- Black Tea
Black tea is warming, hydrating and can be enjoyed hot or cold. It’s loaded with flavan-3-ols (a group of antioxidants also known as catechins or flavanols that can be found in large quantities in most types of tea). The best part is that unlike the Starburcks drink the black tea contains zero calories, so allows you to fill up on flavan-3-ols without gaining weight.
If you spend stressful days, black tea will help you reduce stress and spend a quiet evening.
Being a powerful antioxidant is just one of black tea’s many benefits and it can also boost your health by:
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Enhancing your energy levels
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Improving your concentration
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Improving your oral health
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Relieving stress
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Strengthening your bones and teeth
- Coffee
Coffee is a rich, zero calorie, caffeinated drink that can be taken with or without milk. It’s perfect for giving yourself a lift when your energy levels are flagging and is one of the few food sources of hydroxycinnamic acids (a group of antioxidants that are found in high levels in coffee).
By drinking a maximum of 3 coffee a day, you will get to burn the bad fats of the body.
Coffee is much more than just a potent source of antioxidants and by drinking a couple of cups each day, you’ll also experience the benefits below:
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Improved mood
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Increased body fat burning
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Reduced blood levels of LDL cholesterol (a type of cholesterol that clogs your arteries and limits the flow of blood within them)
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Reduced inflammation
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Stronger nervous system
- Green Tea
Green tea has a grassy, slightly bitter taste but is very refreshing. Like black tea, it contains high levels of flavan-3-ols and is completely free of calories. Green tea is available in many different varieties, so even if you’re not a fan of the flavor first time around, you can keep experimenting until you find a blend that satisfies your taste buds.
By drinking 4 cups of green tea a day, you will improve your muscle rebuilding.
In addition to fighting free radicals, green tea also has the following health benefits:
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Boosting your brain function
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Increasing your metabolism
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Improving your physical performance during exercise
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Strengthening your heart
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Strengthening your immune system
- White Tea
White tea is packed full of flavanoids and like the other healthy hot drinks listed above, it contains zero calories. White tea generally tastes similar to green tea but has a fruitier, more floral flavor. However, there are lots of different types available and each variety has its own distinct twist.
White tea can help you heal your teeth and destroy plaque with the fluoride and tannin it contains. It is also necessary to have a good dental hygiene so that it is done well.
White tea has numerous health benefits and preventing oxidative damage within your body is just one of these. The other positive effects of white tea include:
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Enhancing your energy levels
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Lowering your blood pressure
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Strengthening your bones and teeth
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Regulating your blood glucose levels
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Relieving stress
- Mixed Berry Smoothie
Smoothies are a brilliant way to fill up on antioxidant rich foods in liquid form and berries are one of the best smoothie ingredients out there. All types of berries contain large amounts of the antioxidants anthocyanins, manganese and vitamin C along with a range of other health boosting nutrients. In addition to this, they’re sweet and juicy and add plenty of flavor to your smoothies. Berries are also very light and contain fewer than 100 calories per cup. Finally, these delicious fruits are much more than just a potent source of antioxidants and can boost your body in numerous other ways which include:
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Improving digestion
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Improving fertility
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Promoting good bladder health
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Protecting against depression
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Supporting your kidneys
To make a mixed berry smoothie, combine a cup of your favorite berries with a cup of fruit juice, Greek yogurt, ice or another water based ingredient, blend until frothy and enjoy.
Summary
Not only are these five drinks highly refreshing but they’re also loaded with antioxidants along with lots of other health boosting vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Simply drink one or more of them each day to enjoy all the health benefits antioxidants provide. If you prefer sweeter drinks then choose the Starbuck drinks from the list above because they contain less sugar and you will keep your beautiful shape.
