Many chocolate products contain toxic heavy metals: new study

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This is a bitter pill to swallow. Many cocoa products in the US contain concerning levels of toxic heavy metals, a new study from George Washington University warns. Many cocoa products in the US contain worrisome levels of lead and cadmium, a new study from George Washington University warns. Picture Partners – stock.adobe.com Researchers analyzed 72 cocoa-based foods — including dark chocolate, often praised as a heart-healthy treat — over eight years. They found that 43% of the products contained an amount of lead that tops recommendations, while 35% exceeded cadmium limits. Surprisingly, organic-labeled products had higher levels of lead and cadmium than non-organic products, the researchers said. Contamination can come from soil or occur during manufacturing. A single serving of these cocoa items may not pose significant health risks, but several servings might. Leigh Frame, director of integrative medicine at GW, led the testing of 72 cocoa-based products. The George Washingto...

Dietitian reveals how to cut the sugar in Starbucks drinks


Sugar, you’re going down.

A registered dietitian from Florida is giving the scoop on how to halve the sugar content in a popular Starbucks blended drink with a few clicks on the Starbucks app.

“If you go on the Starbucks app, you can see all nutrition facts and ingredients, everything that goes into each order,” Marissa Arnone explained in a TikTok last month. “There are multiple sugar sources in one drink, so what I do is I remove the ones that I don’t want and I reduce others.”

Arnone demonstrated her technique with a tall, 12-ounce Matcha Crème Frappuccino.


Arnone demonstrated her technique with a tall, 12-ounce Matcha Crème Frappuccino.
Arnone demonstrated her technique with a tall, 12-ounce Matcha Crème Frappuccino. Starbucks

The standard order comes with whole milk, whipped cream, two matcha powder scoops and two classic syrup pumps for a grand total of 300 calories, 43 grams of sugar, 12 grams of fat and about 50 milligrams of caffeine.

@dietitianmarissa

DIETITIAN HACK‼️ – Let me know in the comments which other healthy alternatives you’d like to see. – When it comes to nutrition (and life in general), everything is a balance. – I believe you can still eat the foods (and drink the Starbucks bevs) you love while achieving your health goals. – If you’d like to learn more about my proven #thrivalmode nutrition method, check out the link in my bio. The new and improved online learning platform launches JULY 7TH🚀 – And follow for more realistic nutrition tips ✨ – #nutrition #dietitian #starbucks #healthyalternative #healthyswaps

♬ original sound – Marissa Arnone, RDN


Arnone said she subs in almond milk, eliminates the classic syrup, opts for one scoop of matcha instead of two, but keeps the whipped cream.
Arnone said she subs in almond milk, eliminates the classic syrup, opts for one scoop of matcha instead of two, but keeps the whipped cream. @dietitianmarissa/TikTok

There’s sugar in the crème frappuccino syrup, whipped cream, classic syrup, and matcha tea blend, according to Starbucks’ nutrition information.

The American Heart Association advises men to consume no more than 9 teaspoons of added sugar a day (36 grams or 150 calories) and women no more than 6 teaspoons (25 grams or 100 calories).

Arnone said she subs in almond milk to prevent digestive issues but keeps whipped cream — “I’m not going to miss out on the whipped cream.”

She axes the classic syrup altogether and opts for one scoop of matcha instead of two.

“Some of their drinks have two [or] three scoops of matcha,” Arnone shared about Starbucks. “For me, personally, it’s too much caffeine and too much sugar because their matcha blend contains sugar.”

She said with her method, “I am able to enjoy the taste of a regular matcha without the jitters and the energy crash that would follow after having a super sweet drink.”

The Matcha Crème Frappuccino was high on Eat This, Not That’s 2023 list of the Starbucks drinks with the most sugar.

If you like matcha, there’s less sugar in an Iced Matcha Tea Latte (140 calories, 20 grams of sugar, 4 grams of fat for a tall) and an Iced Matcha Tea Latte with Oleato Golden Foam (340 calories, 23 grams of sugar, 26 grams of fat for a tall).

Both drinks feature two matcha powder scoops.





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