Coffee shops are so much more than just a place to sip a coffee. They are also great spots to build community, work, and relax. It might be hard to relax, though, when drinking something bad for your health. Believe it or not – not everything made in a coffee shop is good for you. While we will be discussing health, it’s always important to talk to your doctor or nutritionist about any concerns. Click through the slideshow for the worst drinks at your favorite coffee shop and some healthier alternatives.
Frappuccinos
Coffees are delicious, especially frappuccinos. But the reason they are so delicious is the amount of sugar and sweets added to the frozen drinks. The drink is made with more sugar and sweets than coffee. Frappes are also super high in calories.
How Many Calories Do Frappuccinos Have?
The calories in a frappuccino vary a lot and depend on your coffee shop. For instance, a 16-ounce caramel frappe in Starbucks has around 380 calories, while the same size frappe in McDonalds is 490.
Sweetened Cappuccinos
Anything that uses a lot of syrups and sweeteners isn’t the best for your health. Another unhealthy drink found in coffee shops is cappuccinos, especially the ones sweetened. Caramel cappuccinos are very popular for a reason, they are delicious! But is the deliciousness worth your health?
Coffee/Espresso
This drink might be a bit of a stretch and also hard to ignore in a coffee shop. Coffee and espresso have a lot of health benefits, but excess caffeine can bring a lot of problems. Still, it’s hard to drink ‘a lot’ of caffeine. Although there isn’t one exact number, about 400 milligrams of caffeine is safe for most humans.
What Happens When You Drink Too Much Caffeine?
While it’s hard to drink too much caffeine, if you do, it does cause uncomfortable and potentially dangerous side effects. A few of these side effects, according to the FDA, are heart palpitations, nausea, anxiety, stomach issues, and lack of sleep.
The Connection Between Sugar and Health Problems
Sugar alone isn’t bad. It’s all about the quantity and frequency. One frappuccino a week is unlikely to do much, but one every day can increase your risk of health problems. But which ones?
Heart Disease
According to Healthline, high-sugar diets are linked to heart disease. One frappuccino is likely not enough to cause serious health issues, but constantly drinking these sugary drinks leads to a higher risk. High-sugar diets can also cause obesity, which leads to heart disease.
Acne
Too much sugar consumption can also lead to poor skin and acne. A high spike in glucose may cause a sudden spike in insulin, which increases your skin’s oil production.
Depression
Did you know consuming too much sugar also affects your mental health? Too much sugar has also been linked with an increased risk of depression. It can also affect anxiety and overall mood.
Healthy Drinks at a Coffee Shop
Not everything available at coffee shops is bad for you. Slide for some healthier alternatives.
Matcha Tea
Matcha tea isn’t just delicious but also linked to many health benefits. Of course, it’s important to drink this sweet green tea in moderation. Matcha tea contains anti-inflammatory properties and antioxidants. This drink also contains caffeine, although a smaller amount than coffee (about 23 mg), helping you stay alert and awake.
Black Tea
Another healthy drink in coffee shops is black tea. Or really, any tea! Black tea, though, has significant health benefits. It contains an antioxidant called theaflavin that can lower blood pressure. On top of that, black tea has flavonoids, another powerful antioxidant linked to lowering the risk of heart disease by 8%.
Like coffee and matcha tea, black tea contains caffeine. It only has about half the amount of caffeine compared to coffee, but it’s still enough to increase focus. Black tea also has an amino acid called L-theanine, which gives consumers a stable and calming energy.
Black Coffee
Coffee actually has a lot of health benefits. These health benefits, though, are reduced when you start adding sugar, syrups, and milk. If you can stomach the strong flavor of coffee, drink it black.
A big health benefit studied in connection to coffee is the decreased risk of type 2 diabetes. Apart from this, drinking a moderate amount of coffee may also prevent Alzheimer’s. Of course, we still have a lot to learn. There are conflicting studies on coffee and its effect on memory and dementia.
Coffee is also a mood booster. It’s a stimulant that provides drinkers with a boost of energy.
Drinking black coffee also potentially helps with weight loss. Black coffee suppresses hunger and appetite, which can result in eating fewer calories.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Sasha_Suzi / Getty Images.