A ‘coffee and a catch-up’ has been a staple in people’s social lives for years, however research has now revealed that some high-street chain coffee shops are selling coffees that are laced with MORE sugar than a Mars bar.
NHS Health Advice suggests people should not exceed a maximum of 30g – or around seven teaspoons of free sugar a day. However, a fan-favourite Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Frappuccino with whole milk comes in at a whopping 51.3g of sugar – equivalent to about 12 teaspoons.
Over at Costa, a new drink that has recently been unveiled as part of their seasonal menu – the medium Maple Hazel Hot Chocolate with whole milk contains 50.5g of sugar.
By comparison, a standard 51g Mars chocolate bar comes in with 31g of sugar, equivalent to 7.5 teaspoons. Having just one of these drinks is also the equivalent as tucking into 4 sugar strand doughnuts from Greggs.
Excessive sugar intake is one of the biggest contributors to people eating in a calorie surplus, which leads to weight gain. Being overweight majorly increases your risk of health conditions such as heart disease, some cancers and type 2 diabetes, with diabetes rates expected to soar to 1.3 billion by 2050.
And if you’re trying to look after your dental health, we would encourage you to avoid these sugar-laden drinks as sugar is one of the main causes of tooth decay.
Luckily, there is plenty of other low-sugar and healthier drink options available on the menu so you don’t have to fear going out for a coffee. If you’re watching your sugar intake, steer clear from any frappes and instead opt for an iced Americano. Or you could go for a classic latte, cappuccino or flat white but avoid adding syrups or sugar to them. Tea-drinkers are in luck with both a Classic English breakfast tea and Earl Grey containing low sugar (just watch how many sugars you’re asking for when ordering!).
