Starbucks' New 'Trenta' Cup: The Unhealthy Details
By Jenny Everett,SELF magazine
Thirsty? It's your lucky day.
Today, Starbucks began rolling out its new "Trenta" size -- which holds 31 ounces, or nearly a quart of liquid.
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Not grossed out yet? The Trenta is bigger than the average stomach. Although Starbucks only plans to offer the Trenta for drinks under 230 calories -- for now -- we've got to suspect that nothing healthy can come of this.
The National Post in Canada created this brilliant infographic to demonstrate just how big the Trenta is:
Registered dietician Mary Hartley, director of nutrition for Calorie Count, shot down Starbucks' promise that it's only offering the Trenta option for lower-calorie iced drinks.
"With any coffee shop chain product, including Starbucks, it's all about the consumer's additions of sugar and cream," says Hartley. "When the coffee is iced or hot, the additions to the beverage is what can do the major damage to one's body."
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And with drinks this large, you can bet that many Starbucks junkies will be dumping in the sweet stuff.
Regarding the stomach size issue, Hartley said that while entertaining, it's not really something to get worked up about.
"Solutions leave the stomach quickly when their electrolyte or glucose content is less concentrated than body fluids, which is the case with these drinks," she says. "In extreme cases, when fluids are introduced to the intestines too quickly, stomach cramps and diarrhea occur. The wisdom of the body!"
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Indeed! We shudder to think what would happen to us if we took down 31 ounces of iced coffee.
Where do you stand on the Trenta size? Unnecessarily gluttonous, or the answer to your caffeinated dreams?
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Photo Credit: Condé Nast Digital Studio
