My “usual” at Starbucks used to be a grande caramel Frappuccino, up until the day I walked into Starbucks, talking on the phone with my mother. She told me that lately she had been opting for the “Shaken Iced Green Tea,” so I decided to give it a try. My “usual” now at Starbucks is a grande Shaken Iced Green Tea.
According to online Starbucks beverage details, the grande Shaken Iced Green Tea contains 80 calories with zero calories from fat, as compared to the grande Caramel Frappuccino, which I had previously consumed each day, with 430 total calories and 140 from fat. The decreased caloric intake alone was enough to hook and add me to the growing craze of green tea drinkers, but the taste was exceptional.
According to the market research publisher Packaged Facts, in 2003, green tea generated about $625 million of the $5.5 billion in total tea sales.
In late 2004, Dr. Nicholas Perricone, an award-winning dermatologist and author of three New York Times No. 1 Best Sellers, appeared on ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show.’ Perricone raved about the wonders of green tea. He stated that if you replace coffee with green tea, then you could lose up to 10 pounds in six weeks. Perricone explained, “Coffee has organic acids that raise your blood sugar and insulin. Insulin puts a lock on body fat. When you switch over to green tea, you get your caffeine, you’re all set, but you will drop your insulin levels and body fat will fall very rapidly. So 10 pounds in six weeks, I will guarantee it.” Winfrey insisted she would have to try it, and when Winfrey says she will do something, her huge following will do so as well, thus fueling the green tea trend even more. According to the “Oprah” Web site, between 3:30 and 4 p.m. every day, Winfrey has a cup of green tea.
Green tea contains Epigallocatechin Gallate, a potent antioxidant, and has been touted to reduce cancer and decrease heart disease, but there is some debate regarding the legitimacy of these claims, especially green tea’s role in cancer prevention. According to ReutersHealth.com earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration concluded that green tea does not reduce the risk of cancer. On the other hand, at the International Research Conference on Food, Nutrition and Cancer sponsored by the American Institute for Cancer Research, scientists presented new evidence about phytochemicals, found in green tea, which may prevent normal cells from developing into cancer and spreading.
According to MSNBC’s Karen Collins, R.D., drinking “massive amounts” of green tea won’t save us from our poor diets and “a sedentary lifestyle.” She also said, “For those of us who would like to do a little more to reduce the risk of cancer, replacing three or four cups of coffee or soda per day with green tea is a reasonable step that may bring a variety of health benefits.”
Starbucks’ Shaken Iced Green Tea is just one of the many drinks that are part of the national green tea craze. Starbucks also offers the Tazo Green Tea Frappuccino. You can also get your green tea fix when out on the town. Zen, a green-tea liqueur, has become popular for those looking to get their green tea kick during a night out. The green tea martini and Green Tea Collins are drinks that have also recently appeared. Snapple and Lipton have come out with their own lines of green tea products.
I’m not looking to prevent cancer or heart disease when I order a drink at Starbucks, but I know that the green tea is a much healthier route to take. I enjoy the airy 80 calories of the Shaken Iced Green Tea compared to the 430 calories in the Caramel Frappuccino. If there are other health benefits that result from my switch only time will tell!
Alex Leckerling is a CCPA major. She can be reached at [email protected]
