How long do I need to run to burn off Starbucks summer drinks?

Walking off Starbucks’ two new summer drinks could take somewhat longer than you think.

This week America’s largest coffee chain launched beverages for the warmer months — the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino and the White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew.

Roasters claimed the drinks were meant to elicit a ‘moment of summer fun’, laced with flavors reminding customers of ‘tropical vacations’ and ‘mint chocolate chip ice cream poolside on a warm summer day’.

However, the drinks are packed with calories, with more than two-and-a-half hours on a treadmill needed just to burn off the Chocolate Java Mint Frappuccino.

They are also heaving in sugar and salt, blowing past what doctors would recommend for a quick snack.

A Venti-sized Java Mint Frappuccino sets someone back 600 calories, while the same-sized cup of the Macadamia Cream Cold Brew contains a whopping 37 grams of sugar — or as much as a can of Coca-Cola.

Starbucks has pitched the drinks as being perfect for a warm summer’s day at the park or the beach.

But indulging in them could sabotage the summer beach body that many have worked so hard to achieve.

The Java Mint Frappuccino contains 600 calories and 87 grams of sugar in the Venti size — which is 24fl oz.

For a person that weighs a healthy 150 lbs, that would take walking at three miles per hour for two hours and 32 minutes to burn off.

For running at six miles per hour, the same person would need to be breaking a sweat on the tarmac for 49 minutes.

It also blows past the Food and Drug Administration’s recommended sugar allowance of 50 grams per day for the average American, at 174 percent of this level.

The other drink contains 280 calories and 37 grams of sugar.

For the same person to burn it off, they would need to go on an hour and 11-minute walk or run for 23 minutes.

If you are the size of an average American, however, at 180lbs, you would need to do a little less work to burn off the drinks — although it would still be a challenge.

Consuming too much sugar puts someone at risk of weight gain, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

This is then linked to a whole host of health conditions, including heart problems, cancers in certain areas such as the colon and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Scientists warn having type 2 diabetes may cause Alzheimer’s because the condition can damage blood vessels in the brain, which is thought to be one of the major causes of the condition.

A paper from the International Journal of Epidemiology published in 2021 also warned that those who were obese were one-third more likely to get Alzheimer’s than people who are a healthy weight.

Doctors say that in order for someone to stay within their sugar parameters they should watch what they eat and drink during the day.

They warn that sugary drinks are worst for leading people to exceed their sugar intake because they often do not know how much sugar these contain.

Launching the beverages this week, Maureen Matthews from the company’s development beverage team said that with the Frappuccino they had been aiming to ‘create a blended coffee beverage that elicits nostalgia for one of our favorite summer treats’.

She added: ‘The new white chocolate mint sauce is subtle and creamy, and when paired with the crunch of Frappuccino chips and a swirl of rich mocha, is reminiscent of mint chocolate chip ice cream poolside on a warm summer day’.

On the Chocolate Macadamia Cold Brew, Matt Thornton from the same team, said it was trying to bring back memories of a ‘tropical vacation’.

‘When creating Starbucks White Chocolate Macadamia Cream Cold Brew, we were inspired by memories of fresh macadamia nuts on tropical vacations and the distinct flavor of white chocolate macadamia nut cookies,’ he added.

‘The smooth flavor profile of Starbucks® Cold Brew combined with the nuttiness of macadamia flavor, creaminess of white chocolate flavored sauce in the cold foam, and salty cookie crumbs delivers the perfect balance of sweet and savory that customers love and offers a moment of summer fun with every sip.’