My New Favorite Beverage: Starbucks Refreshers

In my quest for fitness, I decided to quit sodas. I might have one as a treat every now and then. However, I am quitting the every day soda.

In fact, just the other day my fiance was paying for our food and ordered fountain drinks for all of us. I quickly corrected him and changed the order to two, not three. I drank my water from my water bottle instead. I carry this bottle with me everywhere!

Even so, a nice treat is nice. BUT it has to be a treat, otherwise it beats the purpose of calling it a treat.

This is where Starbucks Refreshers are coming in as an alternative to Coke.

Starbucks Refreshers vs. Coke

Here is the nutritional facts show down:

Starbucks Refreshers vs. Coke

Starbucks Refreshers have less Calories, Carbs and Sugar
than Coke and more caffeine.  Plus Starbucks Refreshers are
loaded with vitamins!

	Starbucks Refresher	Coke
Calories	60	140
Fat	0 g	0 g
Cholesterol	0 mg	0 mg
Sodium	5 mg	45 mg
Total Carbs	19 g	39 g
Sugars	13 g	39 g
Protein	0 g	0 g
Vitamin A	0%	0%
Vitamin B6	25%	0%
Vitamin C	20%	0%
Calcium	0%	0%
Iron	0%	0%
Caffeine	50 mg	34 mg

Serving size = 12 oz., Strawberry Lemonade Refresher used for comparison.



Now, I have heard that the vitamins in Starbucks refreshers are synthetic, so I can't say that these beverages are technically healthy. However, if you are looking for a sweet, carbonated beverage with a gentle amount of caffeine and an energy boost (via vitamins), I think its a good alternative. Perfect for an afternoon pick me up.

Ingredients List Comparison

Starbucks Refresher

Coke

Carbonated water, fruit juices from concentrate (white grape, apple, lemon, strawberry), erthyritol, natural flavors, green coffee bean extract, citric acid, vegetable juice (color), rebaudioside-A (stevia leaf extract), panax ginseng root powder extract, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), niacinamide (vitamin B3), calcium D-pantothenate (vitamin B5), pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6). Contains 25% juice and 50mg of Panax Ginxeng per serving.

Carbonated water, high fructose corn syrup, caramel color, phosphoric acid, natural flavors, caffeine.

Starbucks Refreshers Via - instant beverage. I mix 1/2 Via
with a 12 oz can of carbonated water for a yummy treat and
only 35 Calories!  The Via version has 110% Vitamin C
per 1/2 packet. (image courtesy of starbucks.com with text
by ngnrdgrl.blogspot.com)

Plus, the ingredients in the Starbucks Refresher can sound more appealing to me than a can of coke. There are certainly more ingredients in the Starbucks can, but no high fructose corn syrup. Stevia is a natural sweetener that is low in sugar and Calories. Instead of using artificial coloring, the refresher uses vegetable juice for coloring.

I really like the refreshers out of the can (same with cokes), but I have also tried the Via powders. The nice thing about the powder is that you don't have to use the whole packet. The bad thing about the packet is they don't dissolve very well. I find that after mixing it up if I let it sit for a bit, it will dissolve more.

One packet supposedly makes 16 oz. Well, I don't own 16 oz glasses. My tallest glass is 12 oz. So here's what I do. I mix half a packet with 12 oz of carbonated water. This makes a yummy treat that is only 35 Calories!

Beverage Comparison

Here are some comparisons to other beverages:

Drink Comparison

	Calories	Sugar	Fat	Caffeine
Starbucks Refresher	60	13 g	0 g	50 mg
Drip Coffee	100	-	3 g	145 mg
Latte	150	-	6 g	75 mg
Black Tea	0	0 g	0 g	63 mg
Coke	140	39 g	0 g	34 mg
Diet Coke	1-4*	0 g	0 g	45 mg
Red Bull	157	39 g	0 g	113 mg
Mountain Dew	170	46 g	0 g	54 mg

12 oz used for comparison. Assumed 2% milk and no sugar in coffee. Tea assumes no milk or sugar added.
*When beverages contain less than 5 Calories, companies are not obligated to report it and can claim 0 Calories.

Looking at this list, it is clear to me that drinking tea is perhaps the most healthy of the caffeinated beverages. Unfortunately, tea has never been my cup of tea. ;)

I don't know why, but I have never really been into tea. Sometimes I like to have an un-caffeinated cup before bedtime. My doctor actually prescribed chamomile tea to aid in sleep. It definitely helps me fall asleep, but then I end up waking up to pee numerous times.

I am a huge anti-diet-soda person. The artificial sweeteners have me running for the hills. Artificial sweeteners have been linked to weight gain, high blood pressure and depression (see resources below). I'd rather just cut out coke then resort to diet coke (which is what I am attempting).

Image courtesy of Just say no to diet soda! by Freak of Nature Fitness.

For now, a cup of coffee in the morning is still my caffeinated beverage of choice. For evening beverages, I have been drinking lightly flavored carbonated water. For a weekend treat, I might choose a Starbucks Refresher for a soda substitute.

I also enjoy the Zevia line of carbonated beverages. They take advantage of the stevia sweetener just like the Starbucks Refreshers. They have a tanginess to them that is very different from other sodas, but pairs nicely with their ginger ale and ginger root beer. {I love ginger ales! Hard apple ginger cider is the best!}

What is your favorite beverage/treat? Have you tried to kick (or reduce) your favorite beverage/treat due to health/fitness reasons? How did you quit or what did you replace it with?

Sources:

1. Starbucks Official Website
2. My Fitness Pal
3. Diet Coke vs. Coca-Cola Zero: What's The Difference? 
4. Caffeine Content of Drinks
5. Artificial Sweeteners Linked To Weight Gain
6. Artificial Sweetener Causes Cancer in Rats at Levels Currently Approved for Humans, New Study Suggests
7. Diet Drinks, Artificial Sweeteners Tied to Greater Risk of Depression