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Liquids That Contain Sugar

Since the consumption of too much sugar has been shown to have a variety of negative health effects, it's wise to consider how much sugar is in the various liquids that we include in our diet. While most people are well aware that soft drinks are high in sugar, the sugar content of some supposedly healthier drinks can be surprising.

  1. Soft Drinks

    • Soft drinks are often seen as the "bad guys" when it comes to sugar content, and this reputation is mostly well deserved. A regular can of soda (about 1 1/2 cups) has the equivalent of 10 tsp. of sugar. There are slight variations, but this amount is very consistent between different brands and different types of drinks like cola, orange and lime. A large fountain drink of 7 1/2 cups contains a whopping 52 tsp. of sugar.

    Fruit Juices

    • Fruit juice is often seen as a healthy alternative to soda, and in some ways it is. Fruit juices at least contain vitamins and minerals, which soft drinks are lacking. In terms of the actual amount of sugar per cup, fruit juice is not that much different from soda; unsweetened orange juice contains about the same mass of sugars as a regular soft drink per cup. However, fruit juice contains a natural combination of the sugars sucrose, glucose and fructose, whereas high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is sometimes used to sweeten soft drinks. A study at Princeton found that HFCS caused obesity in lab animals whereas other sugars did not.

    Milk

    • Milk is another beverage with a healthy reputation that is not sugar free. One percent milk contains about half the amount of sugar as soda or juice. The sugar in milk is different, however, from the sugars typically found in juice and soft drinks; it is lactose. Lactose is found almost exclusively in milk and dairy products. Chocolate milk, of course, has more sugar than normal milk (about 67 percent more), although still less than juice or soda.

    Other Sweet Liquids

    • There are many other liquids that contain sugars to various extents. Some liquids with naturally occurring sugars are maple syrup and honey. Beverages with added sugars include smoothies as well as some coffee-based beverages, dessert wines and liqueurs. As well, many sports drinks and energy drinks contain significant amounts of sugar. Although such drinks may also contain added vitamins and other nutrients, a 20 oz. sports drink can contain about 13 tsp. of sugar, more than a can of soda.

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