Is Hubert's Lemonade Bad For You?
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.
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Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
View Full Grading System
Category 'A'
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Side effects are rare. Things rated an 'A+' are typically necessary for survival (for example, water).
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. A few harmful qualities may be associated, but only under certain circumstances such as an allergic reaction.
Very healthy and numerous health benefits. Harmful qualities may be associated, but aren't usually serious.
It is important to note that even the best things in life can become bad in immoderate amounts. So, although something may be rated an 'A+', overconsumption/overdoing can bring unwanted effects.
Category 'B'
Very beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B+' may have a few harmful qualities to pay attention to.
Overall beneficial to your health. Things rated a 'B' may have some harmful qualities to pay attention to.
More beneficial to your health than not. However, harmful qualities are most likely associated and shouldn't be overlooked.
The main difference between category 'A' and category 'B' is the harmful qualities typically present in 'B' items. Serious side effects are usually uncommon, but are still possible and should be taken note of.
Category 'C'
Both beneficial and harmful qualities associated. Things rated a 'C+' are typically a bit more on the beneficial side. Still, moderation is important.
A fairly even ratio of beneficial and harmful qualities. Moderation is important. Very general topics that can lean towards both sides of the spectrum will be placed here as well. Rice, for example, can be good or bad depending on the type.
More harmful than beneficial. Side effects are common, especially when consumed/done excessively. Moderation is very important.
Category 'C' usually denotes to both good and bad qualities. When it comes to this category, it is important to keep this word in mind: moderation.
Category 'D'
Harmful to your health. Although benefits may be associated, the bad most likely outweighs the good. Moderation is very important.
Harmful to your health. A few benefits may be associated, but the bad outweighs the good. Moderation is extremely important.
Harmful to your health. Very few, if any, benefits are present. Things in this category should be avoided as much as possible.
Category 'D' is typically for things that are more harmful than beneficial. While consuming/doing something unhealthy once in a blue moon shouldn't hurt, we definitely recommend eliminating 'D' items as a regular part of your routine/diet.
Category 'F'
Category 'F' is for things that fail to bring anything beneficial to the table, and are very harmful to your health. We recommend completely avoiding anything in this category. Long-term side effects of 'F' items are usually very serious.
Category 'N'
'N' stands for neutral. Things placed into this category are generally (a) neither good nor bad for you, or (b) lack the necessary evidence to reach any conclusions.
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
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nausea
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bloating
Possible long-term side effects
- tooth enamel erosion
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cavities
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diabetes
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gastrointestinal inflammation
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other sugar-induced effects
Ingredients to be aware of
Benefits
- free of artificial preservatives
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free of artificial colors
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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
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