Is your coffee part of a healthy eating plan? Or worse than a piece of cake?

June 15, 2009 | No comments | Healthy Eating Guidelines

iced-mocha_sm Many believe pure, black coffee is one of the world’s most potent elixirs. Research shows that a morning cup can help decrease your risk of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and type-2 diabetes. That’s good news since 77 percent of U.S. adults over 18 years of age drink coffee on a daily or occasional basis, according to Michelle Eichhorn, associate research director at Kraft Foods’ Coffee Division.

Though are you drinking pure black coffee. By the lines at the local Starbucks I would say no. Particularly since you can hear the roar of the machines whipping up some really rich and creamy drink combination.

There’s a big difference between an untainted cup of joe and the souped-up, sugar-loaded blends that list coffee as one of the ingredients. Order drinks like this from Starbucks and you might as well have a piece of cake or some ice cream.

Worst Frozen Coffee Drink at Starbucks

Strawberries & Crème Frappuccino® Blended Crème – whip (grande)
570 calories
15 g fat (9 g saturated fat)
83 g sugars
This afternoon pick-me-up is a sure way to consume 30 teaspoons of sugar. To top this sugar load, you would have to munch through three sticky orders of cotton candy.

Drink This Instead!
Espresso Frappuccino® Light Blended Coffee
110 calories
0.5 g fat
13 g sugars

If you want a chocolately drink that not only tastes great, but gives you the vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein you need to function at your best then try this meal replacement shake.

Yours in health,

Jayson Hunter RD, CSCS

Share and Enjoy: