Nutritional Profile of Popular Snapple Beverages
Here is an overview of the nutrition facts for some of Snapple's most popular drink options:
Snapple Peach Tea
- Serving Size: 16 fl oz
- Calories: 190
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 48g
- Sugars: 46g
- Protein: 0g
Snapple Diet Peach Tea
- Serving Size: 16 fl oz
- Calories: 10
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Snapple Lemon Tea
- Serving Size: 16 fl oz
- Calories: 150
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 38g
- Sugars: 38g
- Protein: 0g
Snapple Diet Lemon Tea
- Serving Size: 16 fl oz
- Calories: 10
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 55mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Snapple Half 'n Half Lemonade Iced Tea
- Serving Size: 16 fl oz
- Calories: 120
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 25mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 29g
- Sugars: 29g
- Protein: 0g
Snapple Diet Half 'n Half Lemonade Iced Tea
- Serving Size: 16 fl oz
- Calories: 5
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 0g
- Sugars: 0g
- Protein: 0g
Snapple Apple Juice Drink
- Serving Size: 16 fl oz
- Calories: 220
- Total Fat: 0g
- Sodium: 15mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 56g
- Sugars: 54g
- Protein: 0g
Sugar Content of Snapple Beverages
One of the biggest concerns with Snapple drinks is their high sugar content. The American Heart Association recommends no more than:
- Men: 36 grams of added sugar per day
- Women: 25 grams of added sugar per day
Just one 16oz bottle of regular Snapple contains between 29-54 grams of sugar depending on the flavor. This exceeds the recommended daily limits.
The "diet" versions do not contain any sugar. Opting for the diet or light varieties is one way to enjoy Snapple beverages while limiting your sugar intake.
Sugar Substitutes in Diet Snapple Drinks
So if Diet Snapple has no sugar, what sweetens it? Here are the main sugar substitutes used:
- Sucralose - An artificial sweetener also known as Splenda. It's about 600 times sweeter than sugar.
- Acesulfame potassium - Another artificial sweetener around 200 times sweeter than regular sugar.
- Neotame - A derivative of aspartame that's 7,000-13,000 times sweeter than sugar.
There are mixed opinions on whether these artificial sweeteners are safe and healthy choices. While they contain minimal calories, their long-term effects are still being researched.
Complete Ingredients in Snapple Beverages
Snapple has been criticized over the years for adding unnecessary ingredients to their beverages. Let's analyze the complete ingredient labels:
Snapple Peach Tea Ingredients
Brewed black tea, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, peach juice from concentrate, natural flavors, potassium citrate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as preservatives, yellow 5, yellow 6.
Snapple Diet Peach Tea Ingredients
Filtered water, citric acid, potassium citrate, natural flavors, peach juice concentrate, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate and edta as preservatives, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, yellow 5, yellow 6.
Snapple Lemon Tea Ingredients
Brewed black tea, high fructose corn syrup, citric acid, natural flavors, potassium citrate, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as preservatives, yellow 5.
Snapple Diet Lemon Tea Ingredients
Filtered water, citric acid, potassium citrate, natural flavors, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate and edta as preservatives, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, yellow 5.
Snapple Half 'N Half Lemonade Iced Tea Ingredients
Brewed black tea, high fructose corn syrup, filtered water, lemon juice concentrate, citric acid, natural flavors, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as preservatives, yellow 5, yellow 6.
Snapple Diet Half 'N Half Lemonade Iced Tea Ingredients
Filtered water, citric acid, potassium citrate, natural flavors, lemon juice concentrate, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate and edta as preservatives, sucralose, acesulfame potassium, yellow 5, yellow 6.
Snapple Apple Juice Drink Ingredients
Filtered water, apple juice concentrate, malic acid, sodium hexametaphosphate, ascorbic acid, natural flavors.
Are These Ingredients Harmful?
Some ingredients like sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, sodium hexametaphosphate, and caramel color have come under scrutiny but are generally recognized as safe in small doses. Here are a few of the more controversial ingredients:
- High fructose corn syrup - Linked to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease risks.
- Yellow 5 and Yellow 6 - Artificial food dyes associated with allergies and hyperactivity in children.
- Sucralose - May alter gut bacteria and affect blood sugar control, but more
FAQs
How much sugar is in Snapple drinks?
Regular Snapple teas and juice drinks contain 29-54 grams of sugar per 16oz bottle, exceeding daily recommendations. Diet Snapple drinks contain zero sugar.
What sweeteners are used in Diet Snapple?
Diet Snapple is sweetened with artificial sweeteners like sucralose, acesulfame potassium, and neotame. There is some controversy around the safety of these sweeteners.
Are there controversial ingredients in Snapple?
Some potentially concerning Snapple ingredients include high fructose corn syrup, artificial food dyes, and preservatives like sodium benzoate. But most are considered safe in small amounts.
Is Snapple tea good for you?
Snapple tea contains antioxidants from black tea, but also a lot of added sugar. The diet versions eliminate the sugar but use artificial sweeteners. Overall, Snapple tea is not the healthiest beverage choice.
What are the healthiest Snapple drinks?
The healthiest Snapple drinks are the low-sugar options like Diet Peach Tea, Diet Lemon Tea, Diet Half 'n Half, and the juice-based Apple Juice Drink. But even better options are unsweetened teas and juices without additives.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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