You’ve been lied to. I know it’s hard to hear, but skinny lattes from Starbucks don’t make you skinny. They don’t contribute to your overall health. We’re not saying you can’t enjoy a treat, but don’t mistake a treat for a healthy option. 

The Truth About Starbucks Skinny Lattes

Skinny lattes from Starbucks have become part of the cultural norm. Unfortunately, they have been associated with the “healthy” choice for getting coffee drinks.

The truth is these “skinny” lattes don’t make you skinny. They are packed full of chemicals your body can’t properly digest or absorb. You see, that’s the secret to “skinny.” It’s a low-calorie drink because your body really can’t absorb what’s in it.

What are Starbucks Skinny Lattes?

The Starbucks Skinny Latte comes in a variety of flavors. You have the Vanilla, Caramel, and Cinnamon Dolce, to name a few. You can also order an iced skinny latte, which means you can enjoy the beverage hot or cold.

Life is all about variety, right?

A latte is a coffee drink made with espresso and hot steamed milk.

So what makes a latte skinny?

When you order a latte “skinny” at Starbucks, you are essentially ordering a drink with nonfat milk and sugar-free syrup.

I know, I know, it doesn’t sound too bad, right? It actually sounds like a somewhat reasonably healthy alternative to a sugary counterpart.

When you consider that a small size (a short) is only 60 calories and a non-skinny version of the same size is 190 calories, then it starts to sound like a damn good idea!

There are few things that the quick definition of a skinny latte is leaving out, however. It’s the stuff you’ll find in the ingredients part of the nutrition information.

strong coffee company breakfast for better sleep la weekly d

Are Starbucks Skinny Lattes really healthy?

No.

That’s right! I said it!

As far as espresso beverages go, the skinny latte is not all that healthy for you. Looking at calorie content alone can be deceiving. It’s about how your body digests the calories and uses the nutritional value you are ingesting.

If we start with nonfat milk, there are already some red flags. If you look at these studies (1, 2, 3) they have shown that choosing a nonfat option actually leads most people to compensate with other food choices.

People tend to think, “I’ve been good; I deserve a treat.” They tend to carb up later or make up the calories they are supposed to be doing without. They overdo other meals and drinks throughout the day.

I’m not saying you should add copious amounts of milk and dairy-related fat to your diet. I’m warning you to not fall for the ruse that nonfat milk in a coffee drink loaded with chemicals is right for you.

Speaking of chemicals…

Let’s look at the chemical ingredients in a skinny latte from Starbucks.

Citric Acid

  • It sounds legit. But the citric acid found in drinks is not the stuff you would get naturally from organic sources. It’s created. That’s right, it’s manufactured!
  • One report found that it caused joint pain with swelling and stiffness. These are inflammatory reactions. Not good. There was also muscular and stomach pain as well as shortness of breath.
  • The mentioned reactions were NOT found in people consuming the natural form of citric acid. Keep that in mind.

Sodium Benzoate

  • This is another substance that does not occur naturally.
  • This chemical is here as a preservative.
  • There is concern over its ability to convert benzene, which is a carcinogen. Carcinogens cause cancer. That should make you think.
  • Inflammation may occur, promoting cancer development.
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) studies have shown a link between the disorder and sodium benzoate in beverages.
  • Oxidative stress leads to creating more damaging free radicals, which are bad for the cells’ health in your body.
  • This chemical can also mess with your appetite. Some studies have found it to decrease the release of leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone. That would make you more likely to eat more than you really need to.

Sucralose

  • This artificial sweetener is 400-700 times sweeter than sugar! Isn’t sugar already sweet enough?
  • One study revealed that people with severe obesity, who didn’t regularly consume these sweeteners, had elevated blood sugar levels by 14%. Their insulin levels were up by 20%!
  • Baking with sucralose may be harmful. Using this ingredient at high temperatures can cause it to breakdown and create harmful byproducts that increase cancer risk.
  • Studies have shown sucralose may have adverse effects on the vital gut health of your stomach.

Natural Flavors

  • They aren’t “natural” by any means. Compounds are extracted from naturally occurring sources, but the process and byproduct are not natural.
  • You get tricked into thinking it’s positive because we associate positive things with the word “natural.”
  • They are complex mixtures created by food chemists. Because of these mixings, adverse reactions can occur with individuals.
  • Natural flavors aren’t much different from artificial flavors when considering the chemical compositions of both and the expected health effects.

STRONG is the New Skinny

strong coffee company strong is the new skinny la weekly c copy

That really makes you think, right?

There’s a lot of misdirection and marketing going into making you believe you’re making the healthy choice when you really aren’t.

I’m not here to tell you what to do. If you like skinny lattes and still want to get them after reading this, that is your choice.

I am here to offer you an alternative if you’re looking for something that actually is healthy. If you’re tired of chugging the usual vanilla skinny latte, I dare you to trade that in for a STRONG latte.

Morning Fix, Daybreaker, and Sunrise from Strong Coffee Company are fast, easy alternatives to the Starbucks grind.

strong coffee company strong is the new skinny la weekly c

The best part is, they are actually healthy for you!

Strong Coffee Company has a CEO (Adam Von Rothfelder) focused on health gains rather than capital gains. He wants you to be your best self by starting every day right.

To give you an idea of how good the Strong Coffee Company lattes are, I implore you to read through the ingredients.

Research them on your own, don’t take my word for it! You’ll find that every part of these lattes are put together to improve your performance and make you feel better.

Morning Fix Latte

  • Contains NeuroFactor ™ Coffee Arabica (Whole Fruit) Extract
  • Contains electrolytes and minerals to help you support optimal muscle and brain function
  • Hyaluronic Acid – great for your skin and joints and helps nutrients pass the blood-brain barrier
  • L-theanine – an amino acid that can counteract the jittery effects of caffeine and help with focus and memory
  • C8-C10 MCT Oil – helps with cognitive function and gut health
  • Grass-Fed Collagen Protein – this is great for hair, skin, joints, and digestion
  • Organic Colombian coffee. Lower in acidity than conventional coffee.

That’s just the Morning Fix latte. Daybreaker and Sunrise are just as good for you.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to get “skinny,” try changing your perspective. Think about trying to get healthy and stay healthy. When you do that, the benefits of living that kind of lifestyle will appear in various ways. One of them will be losing weight and managing a healthy weight.

The little choices get us there. So you can choose the skinny latte coffee drink from Starbucks, or you can invest in yourself and try something that the STRONG Coffee Company has to offer. Be healthy. Be STRONG.

Sources:

 

 

 

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.