Will adding real pumpkin make Starbucks pumpkin spice lattes healthier?

Starbucks has recently reported they will be amping up their infamous Pumpkin Spice Latte by adding real pumpkin this year.
This change comes only after criticism from concerned customers that the drink is made with artificial flavors. Starbucks is one of many food and drink companies trying to play to a slightly more health conscious and skeptical crowd.
However, is Starbucks pulling a fast one on the customer? Will adding pumpkin spice latte make the drink any healthier?
The secret sauce
The traditional pumpkin spice latte has been made with a key ingredient, an in-house pumpkin sauce. While nutritional facts of the sauce are strangely missing from the official Starbucks website, a listing of ingredients is available via their store front. Sugar is the first ingredient followed by condensed nonfat milk, high fructose corn syrup, annato (food coloring), natural and artificial flavors, caramel color, salt, and potassium sorbate. From a nutritional standpoint, the sauce would make a dietitian begin crying on the spot. Why?
1. When sugar is the first ingredient, you can just wait to hear your insulin spike and then watch as you have a sugar crash. Consume sugary substances daily and you increase your risk of insulin resistance or diabetes.
2. To make this sauce even sweeter, high fructose corn syrup is added. High fructose corn syrup is a factory food that is not absorbed in the stomach but in the blood stream. It is linked to liver damage.
3. The ingredient listing states “natural and artificial flavors”. What exactly is contained in these flavors, we may never know. However, a natural flavor can be ANYTHING found on earth and an artificial flavor can consist of any chemical compound that man can make.
4. Caramel color is becoming one the most recognized toxic food ingredients available. A recent mouse study found the coloring increased the risk of lung cancer and leukemia. In California, any food or drink that contains more than the regulated limit must place a warning stating “this product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer”.
But will the puree be healthier?
The new latte will reporting not use the pumpkin sauce as the flavoring agent. “Real” pumpkin puree will replace this toxic syrup. This is a huge step in the right direction. However, until we have a full listing of nutritional facts and ingredients from Starbucks, we may never make a true nutritional decision on the drink. The pumpkin puree will no doubt still contain high amounts of sugar. Whether other artificial preservatives and flavorings will be there, we passionately await the answer.
Instead of heading out to your neighborhood Starbucks, make your own clean pumpkin spice latte with all natural ingredients that can be trusted. Here is a great recipe:
In a saucepan mix ½ cup of UNSWEETENED, ALMOND MILK with 3 tablespoons of PUMPKIN PUREE. Cook for one minute over medium heat before removing from heat. Add ½ teaspoon of VANILLA (all natural), 1 teaspoon of PUMPKIN PIE SPICE, and 1-2 tablespoons of SUGAR (use STEVIA for a sugar free version). Using a hand mixer, blender, or milk frother, blend milk mixture until foamy. Add foamy mixture to a cup of freshly brewed COFFEE or 1 – 2 shots of ESPRESSO. Sprinkle with extra CINNAMON and PUMPKIN PIE SPICE.
Mari-Chris Savage is a licensed and registered dietitian with years of experience in nutritional consultation and corporate wellness. As a nutrition specialist, Mari-Chris has consulted individuals on improving their current health status and focusing on preventative methods for a lifetime. Mari-Chris also holds a certification in personal training to promote physical activity guidance and motivation. Her background spurs an extremely active lifestyle filled with running, hiking, barre, and yoga classes. For more from Mari-Chris, check out her website The Savage Standard.
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