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 caramel Frappuccino with semi-skimmed milk comes in at a whopping 48.5g of sugar – equivalent to 12 teaspoons.
Over at Costa – a new drink that has recently been unveiled as part of their summer menu – the Tropical Mango Bubble Frappe with whole milk, contains 47.1g 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 usually contributes to people eating in a calorie surplus, which can lead 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, 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 and want to be healthier, steer clear from any frappes and instead, opt for an iced Americano. Or you could go for a standard latte, cappuccino or flat white but avoid adding syrups or sugar to them. And if you’re a tea fan, than you’re in luck – a Classic English breakfast tea and Earl Grey, both contain low sugar. *Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 – The Lancet
