Top 20 Unhealthiest Drinks
Drinking these beverages in large quantities won't do your body any favors. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for those drinks that shouldn’t be a part of a healthy diet - although enjoying some of them in moderation is fine.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 Can you hold my beer?
00:03 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for those drinks that shouldn't
00:07 be a part of a healthy diet, although enjoying some of them in moderation is fine.
00:12 A coke.
00:13 Grace, who's your coach?
00:16 My dad.
00:18 Number 20, iced tea.
00:23 What's wrong with iced tea?
00:25 Isn't it just hot brewed tea that's cooled down?
00:27 And isn't tea good for you?
00:29 Today I'm showing you how to make iced tea.
00:32 Well yes, in its simplest form, iced tea is just cooled tea, and it's true that many teas
00:37 have antioxidants and other beneficial properties.
00:39 The problem is that for most of us, that isn't the kind of iced tea we're drinking.
00:44 We're drinking bottled and canned iced tea, or making it from instant powdered mix.
00:48 You're saying no to fake, and yes to delicious tasting real fruit flavors.
00:53 And those don't have the same benefits.
00:56 The powdered mixes are often so processed that most if not all of the antioxidants are
01:00 lost.
01:01 Then there's all the added sugar, which depending on the brand, can be equivalent to the amount
01:06 found in a similar sized can of soda.
01:09 Cool to the core.
01:10 Number 19, orange drinks.
01:13 To be clear, we're not talking about orange juice here.
01:15 We're talking about orange drinks.
01:18 Orange juice, in its best and purest form, is freshly squeezed oranges.
01:22 Orange drink is a collection of ingredients, of which only a small portion if any comes
01:27 from actual oranges.
01:29 Just take a look at the ingredient list on an orange high C or Capri Sun.
01:33 So delicious and come in so many real fruit flavors.
01:36 That's why you love high C.
01:39 The first ingredient is water, and the second is sugar or high fructose corn syrup.
01:44 It isn't till the third item on the list that juice even gets mentioned.
01:48 And not only is it from concentrate, but it's a very small percentage of the drink.
01:53 The picture of the orange on the container has almost more nutritional value than the
01:57 actual drink inside.
02:00 Number 18, tomato juice.
02:02 Whether you call tomatoes a fruit or a vegetable doesn't change the fact that they're a good
02:06 source of fiber and many vitamins.
02:09 And if you want to cook and prepare your own tomato juice at home, then there can definitely
02:13 be some health benefits to said drink.
02:16 Absolutely delicious and so good for you.
02:18 However, if you prefer to purchase the canned stuff from your local grocery store, may we
02:22 kindly suggest you don't.
02:24 We get it so thick and rich by using our own special juice tomatoes.
02:28 Although you may see words on the can like no additives or 100% tomato juice, those statements
02:34 fail to mention the ridiculously high sodium content, as high as 43% of the daily recommended
02:40 value.
02:41 So if you're going to buy it, at least look at the low sodium options.
02:46 I got root.
02:47 Number 17, ginger beer.
02:50 While some ginger beers might have about 0.5% alcohol, that has nothing to do with why it
02:55 made our list.
02:57 Once again, the culprit is sugar.
02:59 While the ginger flavor is strong in ginger beer, sugar is often the second ingredient,
03:03 usually even before the ginger root or natural flavoring.
03:07 All we're going to do is mix in about a quarter cup of the ginger syrup with about one cup
03:14 of the soda water.
03:15 Now the truth is that ginger can be really good for you, and so we get the appeal of
03:19 ginger beer and its strong gingery taste.
03:22 However, more research is needed in order to see if the health benefits of actual ginger
03:26 translate to ginger beer.
03:28 But even if they do, check the nutrition label because some of them can contain up to 35
03:34 grams of sugar per serving, and that's a lot.
03:37 It doesn't actually have ginger on the ingredients label.
03:41 Number 16, eggnog.
03:43 Just the idea of eggnog brings up holiday images of sitting in the living room with
03:48 our families, a Christmas tree in the corner, and a fire in the fireplace.
03:53 Right from the carton.
03:54 It's made with lots of eggs, milk, and real sweet cream.
03:57 And while many of our diets and healthy choices go out the window for the holiday season,
04:02 eggnog is one choice you might still want to avoid, or at least choose in moderation.
04:07 Now everyone knows the best way to get the Christmas spirit is to drink a whole lot of
04:11 thick frothy eggnog.
04:13 If we're just talking calories, then with all that egg, cream, milk, and sugar, you're
04:17 looking at upwards of 350 to 400 calories and close to 20 grams of fat per cup for most
04:24 pre-made eggnogs.
04:25 And if you thought choosing the low-fat version was better, be warned that while the fat content
04:30 is lower, the amount of sugar is almost the same.
04:37 Number 15, sports drinks.
04:40 It's true that the electrolytes, sugars, and sodium in these drinks do provide strong
04:44 rehydration and replenishment after a really hard, sweat-inducing workout.
04:49 But be honest here.
04:50 How many of us are downing a Gatorade after training for the Olympic trials, and how many
04:55 of us are drinking it at lunch with our ham and cheese sandwich and a bag of Doritos?
05:02 And along with the higher-than-you-probably-knew amount of sugar in many of these sports drinks,
05:07 you might still also find some food dyes and artificial sweeteners in the low and no-sugar
05:13 versions.
05:14 Basically, what we're saying is, drink water.
05:19 Number 14, flavored milk.
05:22 Assuming you aren't intolerant to lactose, there is definitely some truth to the classic
05:26 slogan that "milk, it does a body good."
05:28 However, once you go ahead and add in flavors such as chocolate and strawberry, we probably
05:40 need to change the slogan to a much less appealing "milk, it does a body not so good."
05:45 Because while the chocolate or strawberry might increase the taste for some folks, it
05:49 also increases the number of calories and the amount of sugar you're putting into your
05:53 body as well.
05:54 And it could be even more if you use the powdered stuff and like to load in the extra spoonfuls
05:59 beyond the suggested serving size.
06:01 Milk was a bad choice!
06:06 Number 13, tonic water.
06:08 No, we sure aren't telling you to deny yourself the joys of a delicious gin and tonic every
06:13 now and then, assuming you are of legal drinking age of course.
06:17 However, while we would always preach moderation when it comes to alcohol, we're going to do
06:21 the same when it comes to the tonic water mixer also.
06:25 You might not have ever checked the nutritional label on a bottle of tonic water, but if you
06:29 had, you would have seen quite a bit of sugar on there, often over 30 grams for a 12-ounce
06:35 serving.
06:36 Depending on the number of G&Ts, that can add up quickly.
06:40 And yes, there are sugar-free options, but those can often have outrageously high sodium
06:45 numbers.
06:50 Number 12, protein shakes and powders.
06:54 Protein is an important part of building muscle and bone strength, as well as a number of
06:58 other functions in the body.
07:00 And it's true that many of us don't get enough protein in our daily diet, which makes a protein
07:04 shake an obvious option.
07:06 However, before you make that choice, you should be aware of a few things.
07:10 Be diligent about reading the ingredients, because many protein shakes and powders out
07:15 there are adding in lots of sugar and artificial flavors, which also equals more calories.
07:21 There have also been heavy metals and BPA found in some powders.
07:25 So if you're going to ingest protein shakes or powders, you should, to quote the ancient
07:29 knight from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, "choose wisely."
07:33 You must choose, but choose wisely.
07:37 Number 11, bubble tea.
07:39 Don't be fooled by the name into thinking it's good for you.
07:42 Yes, tea, especially green tea, has many health benefits.
07:47 And yes, bubble tea, also known as boba tea, does begin with a tea base.
07:52 However, the stuff that comes after the tea is where the delicious problems lie.
07:57 Starting with the bubbles themselves.
07:59 The tapioca pearls are totally fun and yummy, but they also contain a lot of sugar.
08:04 The USDA tells us that an 8-ounce basic bubble tea already has about 28 grams of sugar.
08:16 Then there are the toppings that so many of us get added on, like various jellies or puddings,
08:21 all of which add more sugar to the drink.
08:24 So don't make these a habit.
08:26 Number 10, energy drinks.
08:28 We could all use an energy boost every now and then, but that being said, energy drinks
08:33 aren't the way to do it.
08:34 Yes, they definitely work, and you'll get a short-term energy lift.
08:38 But those wings, as Red Bull likes to call them, don't last long and can have negative
08:43 effects on your health.
08:44 While the can of Red Bull has a little less caffeine than a cup of coffee, it's still
08:48 a good amount, and it comes with 27 grams of sugar as well.
08:52 You could go for sugar-free, but then you're just ingesting artificial sweeteners like
08:56 aspartame.
09:04 Energy drinks have also been known to cause digestive issues and irregular heart rhythms.
09:09 Wings aren't worth that, are they?
09:12 Number 9, blended tropical drinks.
09:17 Yes, we do like pina coladas and getting caught in the rain.
09:22 However, while the latter just leads to wet clothes, the former can have a much more negative
09:26 effect on our persons.
09:28 It can vary based on specific ingredients, but did you know that a classic pina colada
09:32 can clock in at over 800 calories and 100 grams of sugar?
09:36 And a strawberry daiquiri can hit over 400 calories and around 70 grams of the sweet
09:41 stuff?
09:42 Sure, if you're on vacation, treat yourself to a blended tropical drink by the pool.
09:47 You deserve it.
09:48 But maybe stop at one or two, and try to avoid them when you get back home.
09:53 Number 8, vitamin-enhanced water.
09:56 Water is the best and most important liquid we can consume, and vitamins are great.
10:00 So you'd think that vitamin-enhanced water would be the most ultimate drink of all time.
10:05 Well, think again.
10:06 While these drinks do provide added vitamins and minerals, most of the extras they provide
10:10 are in the form of vitamins B and C, which most people get plenty of in their diet anyway.
10:21 Most of these vitamin water products also throw in quite a bit of sugar as well, almost
10:26 as much as a can of soda.
10:28 So instead of vitamin-enhanced waters, just take your vitamins and drink water.
10:32 "People do some crazy things to stay healthy."
10:35 Number 7, cranberry juice cocktail.
10:38 The key word here is cocktail, because there is a big difference between cranberry juice
10:43 and cranberry juice cocktail.
10:46 Our cranberry juice is 100% cranberries and has health benefits that include aiding in
10:51 the prevention of urinary tract infections.
10:53 "We blend our crisp, refreshing cranberries with the ripe, sweet taste of other fruit."
10:57 Whereas cranberry juice cocktail balances the tartness of the cranberries with a whole
11:02 bunch of added sugar, which we know by now is not good for you.
11:07 Cranberries can be an acquired taste, and if it's one that you haven't acquired, that's
11:11 fine, but don't try to get your cranberry intake via the cocktails, because the extra
11:15 sugars outweigh the benefits of the berries.
11:19 "Cranberry juice."
11:20 Number 6, bottled smoothies.
11:22 "We've made a fancy advert about how innocent super smoothies are packed full of good stuff."
11:27 The thing with smoothies is that the healthiness of them is completely reliant on what's
11:31 in them.
11:32 If you make them yourself and throw in some spinach, chia seeds, some plain low-fat yogurt
11:37 and a banana, then you've got yourself a very healthy drink.
11:40 However, if you prefer the convenience of picking up a bottled smoothie from your local
11:44 grocery store, then you probably aren't getting as much healthiness as you'd think.
11:49 You might see that your bottled smoothie has some nice fruit and veggies in it, but look
11:52 a little closer and you could be drinking up to 400 calories and 75 grams of sugar.
11:58 Kinda negates the value of the few fruits and veggies they put in there, doesn't it?
12:02 "Drinking a smoothie with no vegetable nutrition."
12:06 Number 5, fruit punch.
12:08 There are those that caution against drinking too much fruit juice, given the sugar levels,
12:13 but at least pure fruit juice does provide some vitamins and nutrients, depending on
12:17 the fruit, and the sugars are naturally occurring from the fruit as well.
12:21 "How about a nice Hawaiian crunch?"
12:23 However, fruit punch isn't 100% fruit juice.
12:27 Instead, it's usually a mix of various fruit juices from concentrates and lots of sugar.
12:33 Fruit might be in the name, but in many of the fruit punches you find on store shelves,
12:38 the ingredient that comes before the concentrated juices is none other than the unhealthiness
12:43 that is high fructose corn syrup.
12:45 "That's Hawaiian punch."
12:47 "He adores Hawaiian punch."
12:51 Number 4, milkshake.
12:53 While Khaleesa's milkshake brought all the boys to the yard, an actual milkshake will
12:58 bring plenty of sugar and saturated fats to your body.
13:02 Given that milkshakes are made with milk and ice cream and often include extras like whipped
13:06 cream and other sugary toppings, you probably didn't think they were the healthiest thing
13:10 in the world anyway.
13:11 "Celebrate with Minty Shamrock shakes and new Minty Shamrock sundaes right now at McDonald's."
13:16 However, they might be worse for you than you think.
13:19 The exact numbers will vary, but as an example, the vanilla milkshake from Chick-fil-A comes
13:24 in at 580 calories, 23 grams of fat, 390 milligrams of sodium, and 80 grams of sugar.
13:33 You'd be lucky if you could even make it to the yard after all that.
13:37 "I drink your milkshake."
13:41 Number 3, sweetened coffee drinks.
13:44 So you like to start your day with a cup of coffee?
13:46 Join the club!
13:48 There's even evidence suggesting that a moderate amount of coffee per day can actually have
13:52 positive benefits to one's health.
13:54 However, the same cannot be said for all of those fancy, sweetened drinks you might be
13:58 downing on your way to work instead of a simple black coffee.
14:02 You know that caramel, ribbon-crunch Frappuccino you pick up at Starbucks every morning or
14:06 on your lunch break?
14:08 While it is delicious, it also contains 470 calories, 60 grams of sugar, and 22 grams
14:15 of fat.
14:16 "You know what could really help you sort through these important issues?"
14:19 "What?"
14:20 "ORANGE MOCHA FRAPPUCCINO!"
14:24 To put that into perspective, on a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, the FDA recommends no more than 50 grams
14:30 of added sugar.
14:32 Number 2, alcohol.
14:34 The interesting thing about alcohol is that depending on how much you drink, it can find
14:39 itself close to the top of this list or over on a list of healthy drinks.
14:43 While the idea of moderation is hard to pin down, the current governmental guidelines
14:48 in the United States puts the acceptable amount at 1-2 drinks per day for men and 1 for women.
14:54 "A Corona and calm seas."
14:56 "And a bomb breeze."
14:58 "And some long knees."
14:59 And these numbers are very important, because while low to moderate alcohol intake can actually
15:04 reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular causes, drinking above the recommended levels
15:09 increases one's risk of heart attack and stroke.
15:15 Before we continue, be sure to subscribe to our channel and ring the bell to get notified
15:19 about our latest videos.
15:21 You have the option to be notified for occasional videos or all of them.
15:25 If you're on your phone, make sure you go into settings and switch on your notifications.
15:31 Number 1, soda.
15:40 Go to the kitchen, grab the sugar and a teaspoon.
15:43 Now take 9 helpings of the sugar.
15:46 You see all that?
15:47 That is about how much sugar you're downing in just one 12-ounce soda.
15:52 Delicious type 2 diabetes in a can.
15:54 "That is one dirty soda, Santa."
15:57 Not to mention the 150 or so calories that you're also taking in and the fact that there
16:02 is little nutritional value to any of it.
16:05 But wait, what about diet sodas?
16:07 Yes, these do solve the sugar and calories issues, but replace them with artificial sweetener
16:13 problems in the form of aspartame, cyclamates, saccharin, acesulfame K, or sucralose.
16:26 Which of these drinks would be the easiest for you to give up and which would be the
16:30 hardest?
16:31 Let us know in the comments.
16:45 "
16:51 "