Sugar overload: Expert says these 5 Starbucks orders are sweeter than your favorite doughnut

Starbucks drinks taste good and feel refreshing, but many have a lot of sugar. Some drinks have more sugar than a Dunkin’ glazed doughnut, which has 13 grams of sugar. Most of this sugar is added sugar, which is the main sugar in many people’s diets, says Lisa Valente, M.S., RD. Too much added sugar can cause health problems like diabetes, heart disease, weight gain, inflammation, and can also make you feel tired or want more sweets.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans say added sugar should be no more than 10% of daily calories—around 50 grams for a 2,000-calorie diet. Starbucks nutrition info shows total sugar, not added sugar, but hints in ingredients can show where added sugar comes from, as reported by EatingWell report.

Top 5 sweet starbucks drinks:

1. Pumpkin Spice Latte (12 oz) – 38 grams of sugar. Milk adds some natural sugar, but at least 20 grams is added sugar.


2. White Chocolate Mocha (12 oz) – 34 grams of sugar. Most sugar comes from the white chocolate mocha sauce. At least 17 grams of sugar is added.

3. Cinnamon Dolce Latte (12 oz) – 31 grams of sugar. Milk has natural sugar, so around 14 grams is added sugar. You can ask for fewer syrup pumps to reduce sugar.

4. Strawberry Acai Refresher (12 oz) – 16 grams of sugar. Even though it has juice and freeze-dried strawberries, most sugar is added sugar.

5. Matcha Creme Frappuccino (12 oz) – 31 grams of sugar. Less milk in this drink means more added sugar and fewer natural sugars from milk.

Here are 4 lower-sugar options to try:

1. Classic Iced Passion Tango Tea – 0 grams sugar, caffeine-free, refreshing any time.
2. Vanilla Sweet Cream Nitro Cold Brew – Only 4 grams sugar if you skip extra sweeteners.
3. Coffee with a Splash of Milk – Minimal sugar and a little flavor.
4. Plain or Low-Sugar Latte – Has natural sugar from milk, but adding sugar-free syrup keeps sugar low.

Many Starbucks drinks are sweeter than a doughnut, but you can reduce sugar by asking for fewer syrup pumps, skipping sweeteners, or choosing sugar-free syrup. High-sugar drinks to watch: Pumpkin Spice Latte, White Chocolate Mocha, Cinnamon Dolce Latte, Strawberry Acai Refresher, Matcha Creme Frappuccino. By making small changes, you can still enjoy your favorite Starbucks drink with much less sugar or even none at all, according to the report by EatingWell.

FAQs

Q1. Which Starbucks drinks have more sugar than a doughnut?

Drinks like Pumpkin Spice Latte, White Chocolate Mocha, Cinnamon Dolce Latte, Strawberry Acai Refresher, and Matcha Creme Frappuccino have more sugar than a glazed doughnut.





Q2. How can I reduce sugar in my Starbucks drink?

Ask for fewer syrup pumps, skip sweeteners, or choose sugar-free syrup to lower added sugar.