Who among us doesn’t love a tasty pick-me-up from Starbucks every now and then? Not only can our go-to orders give us a burst of energy to take on the day, but the great flavor of our favorite coffee drinks can also make our taste buds happier than ever. Unfortunately, though, they may not be the best choice for our bodies. In fact, many of the most popular Starbucks drinks out there are actually terrible for your overall health—especially those infamous Frappuccinos, which come with a host of risks, including a slowed metabolism.
To get some insight on the risks at hand and discover a few of the worst Starbucks drinks out there, we checked in with registered dietitian Sara Chatfield. She said that the calories and sugar can be serious risk factors.
“Regularly consuming high-calorie coffee drinks can lead to weight gain, particularly since our bodies don’t register calories we drink the same way we do those in food, so you may be hungry again sooner after consuming high calorie drinks,” Chatfield warns. “Regular consumption of added extra sugar from flavored coffee drinks can lead to a host of health problems like high blood sugar, inflammation, increased belly fat, cavities, and a higher risk of chronic health problems like heart disease.” Yikes!
Below, we’ll highlight three of the most high-calorie, sugar-laden Starbucks drinks you should steer clear of for your health: The Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino, White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino, and Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino.
1. Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino
Cookies and coffee are a match made in flavor heaven. Unfortunately, though, this great flavor comes at a cost. Chatfield points out that a Grande Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappuccino has "a whopping 480 calories, 24 grams of fat–15 of them saturated, and 55 grams of sugar." Say it ain't so!
"For most people that’s a huge portion of their calories and saturated fat limit for the day. And it’s more than double the amount of sugar recommended by health experts," she warns.
White Chocolate Mocha Frappuccino
Maybe you're a white chocolate lover. (We don't blame you—although dark chocolate is always a better option for your health). As it turns out, this is another poor choice if you're looking to lose weight or just stay fit. A grande size of this drink clocks in at 430 calories, 18 grams of fat (12 grams of saturated fat), and 53 grams of sugar. Talk about a sugar rush!
"That’s a huge amount of calories for a beverage, over half of the recommended daily limit for saturated fat, and over twice the sugar limit recommended by experts," Chatfield tells us.
Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino
And if caramel is more your thing, we have a bit of bad news in that department, too. Like its cookie crumble and white chocolate counterparts, a Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino is unsurprisingly loaded with calories. 470 in a grande, to be exact.
"This drink can really put a dent in your daily calorie allotment," Chatfield notes. "It also has 14 grams of saturated fat, over half of the daily recommended limit, and a whopping 60 grams of sugar." Once again, drinking this will put you at more than double the recommended sugar intake for a whole day.
What to order instead
So, if Frappuccinos are a no-go, what can you order from Starbucks? While it may be hard for those of us with a sweet tooth to do, Chatfield says that "it’s best to stick to plain coffee, or add a splash of your favorite type of milk." In fact, black coffee can actually help you lose weight!
There are cold options that are better for your health than these frozen drinks, too: "If you’re looking for a cold drink, try an iced coffee, Caffe Americano, or Espresso, or a plain iced black or green tea," she recommends.
While your Frappuccino habit may be hard to kick, it'll be well worth it in the end.
READ MORE: Dietitians Say These Surprising Smoothie Ingredients Are Wrecking Your Waistline
