Out of all of the seasonal drinks coffee chains have to offer, it seems that none rival the popularity (and infamy) of the iconic Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. Many of us can’t resist the pull of this sweet beverage when the leaves start to change; it tastes just like fall in a cup. However, our body’s don’t necessarily love PSLs as much our taste buds do. As it turns out, drinking this latte in excess could lead to serious health risks.
To learn more about the downsides of regularly sipping on a Pumpkin Spice Latte, we spoke to health expert Kristin Carlino, registered dietitian with Jersey City Medical Center. She told us that due to the high amounts of sugar and soaring calorie count, you’re putting yourself at risk of weight gain and more.
How PSL's high sugar content and calories lead to weight gain
Although Pumpkin Spice Lattes are an undeniably sweet, festive treat that many of us love to enjoy as the temperature drops, all of that sweetness and creaminess comes with a cost: blood sugar spikes and weight gain. "A large pumpkin spice latte has nearly 500 calories and 63 grams of sugar," Carlino points out, noting that "The American Heart Association recommends no more than six percent of our calories per day come from added sugars," which means women should only consume about 25 grams of sugar per day. Yikes! That means your PSL is already putting you at double your sugar allotment first thing in the morning—and that's bad news for your body, especially if you're trying to lose weight. "Our bodies have a very easy time digesting sugar, leading to sugar spikes in our blood and crashes," she says.
Overall, anything that packs in that much sugar and that many calories is going to be detrimental to your health over time. "Ultimately, what leads to weight gain is taking in more calories than our bodies need to sustain themselves in a day," Carlino explains. "Adding a pumpkin spice latte (or any food for that matter) into you daily routine without compensating for the extra calories could, ultimately, lead to weight gain." This is especially true when all those extra calories are coming from a beverage, since, as she says, "there is no staying power to those calories." When you gulp down a PSL in the morning, that's just setting yourself up for more sugar and food cravings later in the day, which will only add to the problem.
While this doesn't mean you should never enjoy another Pumpkin Spice Latte again (let's be honest, who can resist when October rolls around?) it does mean you should be careful of your intake. "The danger is in making these kinds of indulgences regular habits where your body is unable to manage the excess you are throwing at it," Carlino tells us.
If you want a little taste of fall every day, there are tons of healthier ways to get it. "There are plenty of teas and coffees that have seasonal flavors without the added sugar or calories. You could also buy pre-mixed pumpkin pie spice from the grocery store and add it to your homemade or take-away coffees. Spices also taste great in foods like oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, or trail mix at any time of the day," Carlino concludes. Sounds delicious—and nutritious!
