Spotlight on Hot Drinks

Spotlight on Hot Drinks
While a high calorie, high sugar coffee isn't a big deal if it's an occasional treat, many people consume them daily. Dreamstime/TNS
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A cup of coffee used to be just that, a cup of coffee. Maybe a drop or two of cream or a sprinkle of sugar was added in. These days a coffee drink is much closer to a gourmet milkshake than it is to its original form. Many are created with a base of milk or cream with several squirts of sugary syrup added in. Add to that a heavy dose of whipped cream and crushed cookies or candy and you’ve got a drink that is the nutritional equivalent to a slice of cake.

While a drink such as this isn’t a big deal if it’s an occasional treat, many people consume them daily, if not multiple times a day, as you might a more traditional cup of coffee. This can lead to consuming far more saturated fat, added sugar, and calories, than recommended in a healthy eating plan. Over time, they can impact one’s cardiovascular health as well as body weight and subsequently one’s risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, and more.

Heidi McIndoo
Heidi McIndoo
Author
Environmental Nutrition is the award-winning independent newsletter written by nutrition experts dedicated to providing readers up-to-date, accurate information about health and nutrition in clear, concise English. For more information, visit www.environmentalnutrition.com. ©2022 Belvoir Media Group, LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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