SHOPPING CART

Bursting the Bubble

Nov 24, 2020
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It's everywhere. From convenience stores, malls, and even restaurants (e.g. Secret Recipe), bubble tea, or boba, is as prevalent as McDonald's. This sugar-inducing, trendy Taiwanese drink is taking the world by storm and it's a wonder why tons of people are willing to wait in long lines to get their hands on one. However, are you aware of the health risks it poses?

Bubble tea is made up of these - milk, sugar, tea, and tapioca pearls. But, don't be fooled into thinking that it's healthy just because tea is part of the mix. In fact, experts say that bubble tea is the worst way in getting the supposed benefits of tea as it's often drowned in sugar. Let's now study in detail its health effects:

1. It's an "empty calorie" drink. When a product is termed as "empty calorie", it doesn't mean that it's free from calories; rather, it acts as the total opposite. A cup of bubble tea contains an average of 20 tablespoons of sugar, way higher that the recommended 8 tablespoons a day! It can also cause your calorie count to skyrocket and throw your dieting plan into disarray as it contains at least 370 calories. You can do the math on that. 

2. Watch out for the pearls. One of the most distinctive element of bubble tea, these tiny, black, and chewy balls that are often found at the bottom are made from starch extracted from the cassava root, a vegetable grown in South America. As you might have guessed, it contributes to increased calorie count. If you think this isn't bad enough, the method in which it's cooked makes it worse. The pearls are often cooked in boiling water and more sugar is added, thus leading to even more calories. 

3. Young children and the elderly will be affected the most. Aside from its standard ingredients, most bubble tea franchises will throw in food additives and coloring as well, which may lead to hyperactivity, a possibly early onset of diabetes, and tooth decay in children. It's also not a good idea for older people to drink bubble tea as their digestive system will find it difficult to digest the pearls and suffer from constipation. 

In conclusion, it's still fine to indulge in a cup once in a while but do so in moderation. That way, you can enjoy your sweet treat occasionally without sacrificing your health in the long run.   

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