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Is Hubert's Lemonade Bad For You?


Grade

D+


Short answer

Hubert’s Lemonade is made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup. That means it’s better than soda, although it’s still not great for you; it doesn’t have artificial preservatives or coloring agents, but it’s still loaded with sugar, nutritionally empty, and fairly acidic.

Grade

D+

Recommended Alternative


Long answer

Hubert's Lemonade is made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup. Neither are great for you, although there's reason to believe that cane sugar is a little healthier for you. Cane sugar needs to be digested for your body to use it as energy; high fructose corn syrup does not - it can enter into your bloodstream directly. Corn syrup is linked to obesity in animal studies in ways that cane sugar has not been.

Keep in mind, however, that cane sugar is still relatively unhealthy. It feeds bacteria in the mouth who will excrete acid and wear down the lining on your teeth, putting you at risk of developing cavities. Although it is digested more slowly than corn syrup, cane sugar can cause your blood sugar to spike. You'll experience a high followed by a crash; your body will take the excess blood sugar and convert it into fat for storage. Blood sugar spikes also reduce your sensitivity to insulin, which is a chemical used to break down sugar, and can put you at risk of developing diabetes.

Cane sugar isn't the only sweetener in Hubert's lemonade. It also has stevia, which is a sugar substitute extracted from the leaves of a South American plant. Stevia is much sweeter than sugar - 150 times sweeter - but has a marginal effect on blood sugar.

Stevia has been the subject of controversy; the FDA banned in the earlier nineties over concerns that it may be carcinogenic. It’s approved for use in Japan, but pure stevia is still illegal to use as an ingredient for foods that are sold in the United States. Some stevia derivatives are approved for use, however, and different European nations have, for the most part, declared small quantities of food in stevia safe.

One more point that should be considered is that Hubert's, like many lemonades, is very acidic. Drinking too much of it at once or on a chronic basis could potentially cause damage to the teeth or gums. It could also alter the pH of your stomach, which in some individuals could lead to or inflame certain gastrointestinal conditions. If you're drinking a lot of lemonade and you're experiencing pain in your teeth or in your stomach, go see a qualified medical professional.


Possible short-term side effects

  • blood sugar spike
  • nausea
  • bloating

Possible long-term side effects

  • tooth enamel erosion
  • cavities
  • diabetes
  • gastrointestinal inflammation
  • other sugar-induced effects

Ingredients to be aware of



Benefits

  • free of artificial preservatives
  • free of artificial colors
  • boost in energy

Our Wellness Pick (what is this?)

Santa Cruz Organic Lemonade

  • USDA Organic Certified
  • Refreshing lemon taste
  • No artificial additives
  • Non-GMO ingredient
Learn More!



Thank you for your feedback!

View Sources | Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 10-17-2016
Last updated: 12-01-2023

Thank you for your feedback!

View Sources
Written by Sean McNulty
Published on: 10-17-2016
Last updated: 12-01-2023




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