Downing Starbucks’ two new summer drinks might take a little longer than you think.
This week, America’s largest coffee chain launched drinks for the warmer months – the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino and the White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew.
The roasters claimed the drinks are meant to invoke a “moment of summer fun,” flavored with flavors that would remind customers of “tropical vacations” and “mint chocolate ice cream by the pool on a warm summer’s day.”
However, the drinks are loaded with calories, and just burning off the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino takes more than two and a half hours on the treadmill.
It’s also teeming with sugar and salt, which far exceeds what doctors would recommend for a quick snack.
The chart above shows the nutritional information for a venti size of each drink and how long it might take someone to burn while walking or running
A Venti-sized Java Mint Frappuccino saves 600 calories, while the same-sized cup of Macadamia Cream Cold Brew has a whopping 37 grams of sugar — or as much as a can of Coca-Cola.
Starbucks has described the drinks as perfect for a warm summer day at the park or beach.
But indulging in them could sabotage the summery beach body many have worked so hard to achieve.
The Java Mint Frappuccino contains 600 calories and 87 grams of sugar in the venti size – that’s 24 fl oz.
For a person who weighs a healthy 150 pounds, it would take two hours and 32 minutes to run at three miles per hour to burn.
To run at six miles per hour, the same person would have to sweat on the pavement for 49 minutes.
At 174 percent, it also exceeds the Food and Drug Administration’s recommended 50 grams of sugar per day for the average American.
The other drink contains 280 calories and 37 grams of sugar.
For the same person to burn their energy, they would have to walk an hour and 11 minutes, or walk 23 minutes.
However, if you’re the average American’s height and weigh 180 pounds, you’d have to put in a little less work to burn the drinks — although it would still be a challenge.
Eating too much sugar puts you at risk of weight gain, obesity and type 2 diabetes.
This is then linked to a whole host of health conditions, including heart problems, cancer in specific areas like the colon, and even Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists warn that type 2 diabetes can cause Alzheimer’s because the disease can damage blood vessels in the brain, which is believed to be one of the main causes of the disease.
A 2021 article in the International Journal of Epidemiology also warned that obese people were a third more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than those of a healthy weight.
Doctors say that in order for someone to stay within their sugar parameters, they should watch what they eat and drink during the day.
They warn that sugary drinks are the worst hazard, tempting people to exceed their sugar intake because they often don’t know how much sugar they contain.
When Maureen Matthews of the company’s beverage development team launched the drinks this week, she said that with the Frappuccino, they aimed to “create a coffee-mix beverage that inspires nostalgia for one of our favorite summertime treats.”
She added, “The new white chocolate mint sauce is subtle and creamy and combined with the crunchy frappuccino chips and a hit of rich mocha, it’s reminiscent of mint chocolate ice cream poolside on a warm summer’s day.”
About the Chocolate Macadamia Cold Brew, Matt Thornton of the same team said he was trying to evoke memories of a “tropical vacation”.
‘“When we created Starbucks White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew, we were inspired by memories of fresh macadamia nuts on tropical vacations and the distinctive taste of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies,” he added.
“The smooth flavor profile of Starbucks® Cold Brew combined with the nuttiness of the macadamia flavor, the creaminess of the cold foam white chocolate flavored sauce and the salty cookie crumbs results in the perfect balance of sweet and savory that customers love and delivers a moment of summer .’ Fun with every sip.’
Discussion about this post