Popular drinks like soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, juices and teas have more sugar and calories than your body needs. These drinks make your blood sugar spike and fall quickly. This makes you feel hungry sooner than usual. They are also less filling than regular food so they can make it easier to eat or drink more calories than your body needs. Eating or drinking more calories than your body needs makes you gain weight.
How Much Sugar is in Your Drink?
1 teaspoon of sugar = 1 packet of sugar
oz. = ounce
Tropicana® orange juice
An 8oz. bottle of orange juice has 6 teaspoons of sugar
vitaminwater®
A 20 oz. bottle of sweetened, vitamin-infused water has 9 teaspoons of sugar
Monster® energy drink
A 16 oz. can of an energy drink has 13 teaspoons of sugar
AriZona® iced tea
A 16 oz. bottle of iced tea has 13 teaspoons of sugar
Minute Maid® lemonade
A 16 oz. bottle of lemonade has 17 teaspoons of sugar
Coca-Cola®
A 20 oz. bottle of cola has 17 teaspoons of sugar
Dunkin’ Donuts Coolatta® (medium)
A 16 oz. frozen, blended fruit drink has 21 teaspoons of sugar
FACT: The extra sugar from a 12 oz. can of soda per day can lead to an extra 15-pound weight gain over the course of 1 year.
Rev. 12/2014. Mass General for Children and Massachusetts General Hospital do not endorse any of the brands listed on this handout. This handout is intended to provide health information so that you can be better informed. It is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to treatment of any medical conditions.
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