My Drink Has How Much Sugar?!

You’ve heard it before, and you hear it often—avoid sugar. But it’s not easy. While you probably know treats such as cookies and doughnuts are loaded with sugar, you may be surprised at how much sugar is in some of your favorite drinks. Coffee, soda, tea and even juice are often full of added sugar.

UNC REX Healthcare registered dietitian Shelly Wegman says the recommendation for added sugar in an adult’s diet is no more than 6 teaspoons per day for women and 9 teaspoons for men. Excess sugar can cause weight gain, inflammation, mood swings and fatigue.

“Cutting sugary drinks can make a significant difference in calorie intake because it’s essentially empty calories. You’re not getting a lot of vitamins or minerals with it,” Wegman says. “You can easily add 100 to 200 or more calories extra every day if you consume sweetened beverages.”

That adds up quickly. An extra 100 calories a day could mean an extra 10 pounds in a year.

Check out the video to see how much sugar is in some of your favorite drinks.