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Ah, the pina colada. We associate the fun time drink with summer, the beach, and (of course) those mini umbrellas you stick into the froth and try to drink around. But the average pina colada is, sadly, filled with a few ingredients that aren't doing your body any favors. Here are 6 reasons why you might want to consider limiting your pina colada intake.
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Reasons Why Pina Coladas Are Bad For You
1) They contain artificial sweeteners — Sure, the pina colada was named after pineapple and coconut, but the truth is most mixes are filled with artificial sweeteners and chemicals. MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, who also happens to be a mixologist, had this to say: "The tragedy of the pina colada is that the pina colada was never wholesome."
2) It doesn't contain actual coconut milk — Sorry to burst bubbles, but the ingredient that gives the pina colada its super sweet coconut taste isn't natural coconut milk, it's Coco Lopez Cream of Coconut, which contains chemicals like polysorbate.
The Worst Facts About Pina Coladas
3) The pina colada is loaded with calories — The average 16-ounce pina colada has 880 calories. If you're indulging in an occasional treat, this is fine, but the problem is this alcoholic beverage is so sweet you may not even realize how easily it goes down. Ordering another pina colada results in you drinking nearly all of your daily intake of calories and getting zero nutritional value back in return.
4) The sugar content is off the charts — Even if you prepare yourself a smaller, more modest pina colada with a manageable 230 calories, a quick glance at the carb content reveals something astonishing: almost 100 percent of these carbs is made up of sugar. And all of that sugar will cause your insulin and glucose levels to spike.
6 Reasons To Avoid Pina Coladas
5) The hangover can be brutal — Blame the sugar in your pina colada for leaving you with the hangover to end all hangovers the next morning. If you are indulging in this cocktail, be sure to drink lots of water and eat a snack before you hit the sheets.
6) It can make you bloated and increase belly fat — The calories in your pina colada are stored in the abdomen. This drink can make you feel bloated and, and if you're over-indulging and not exercising to burn calories, can result in fat stored in your belly.
