We’re a little over halfway through the month of September, which can only mean one thing: We’re in the full swing of Pumpkin Spice Latte season. Starbucks’s PSL, which it officially released the day after Labor Day, contains a gut-busting 380 calories, 14 grams of fat, and 50 grams of sugar. As one could imagine, all of that fat and sugar has an undesirable effect on various areas of our body.
Let’s start with the brain. We’ve all seen the research comparing sugar’s effect on the brain to heroin or cocaine. With 12 teaspoons of sugar in each 16-ounce serving, PSLs are no different than any other sugary beverage that highjacks the brain’s reward center. No wonder teen girls all over the United States can’t get enough PSL. They’re downright addictive.
Next, we move to the heart. Not only does all that sugar cause our blood sugar to skyrocket, but it also causes our blood pressure and pulse to increase significantly around 15 minutes after consumption. However, all of that fat in a PSL delays caffeine absorption for up to 45 minutes. So you’re going to have to wait around 45 minutes before your heart rate is back to normal.
Don’t forget about your stomach, which should be feeling quite a bit of discomfort due to the PSL’s high levels of sugar and caffeine. It also slows down your metabolism while increasing your appetite. This means a lot more unwanted calories. Fear not #BasicWhiteGirls. It’s not all bad news when it comes to the Pumpkin Spice Latte. One 16-ounce PSL also contains 14 grams of protein, which makes it perfect for a post-workout treat.
Article from MSN.com.
