Food

Popular Coffee Drinks Can Pack On The Pounds

BOSTON (CBS4) ― Studies have shown that coffee has a lot of health perks, but be careful what you add to that cup. Some of today's coffee drinks and smoothies are packed with calories and can really pack on the pounds.

Flavored coffees, iced coffee, blended coffees, frappuccinos and fruit smoothies are all the rage at coffee shops.

"If you look at some of these, they can go up to 600 calories for one beverage," said nutritionist Betty Kovaks. "Some meals aren't even 600 calories."

That's right. One of your favorite daily caffeine boosts could fill you up with more calories than an entire meal.

Most nutritionists say the average woman should have 1,200 calories a day. A single special coffee drink can use up half the daily amount.

What do those calories translate to on your body? "In a year, 100 extra calories would equal a ten pound weight gain," said Kovaks.

If that's what 100 calories a day would do, imagine the result from the 400 to 500 extra calories a day in some coffee drinks. Most of those calories come from sugar and fat.

To put it in perspective a typical 20 ounce soda is 240 calories.

According to Starbucks, the Grande Caramel Frappucino with whip is 430 calories, about what you'd find in some meals.

If you think that's a lot, the 24 ounce Strawberry-Banana smoothie from Dunkin Donuts comes in at a whopping 550 calories.

The alternative is to stick with diet beverages. If you need coffee, make sure to have it with skim milk and an artificial sweetener.

"I would suggest that you try not to drink anything with calories in it," said Kovaks. Instead use those calories on food. It will fill you up longer, hold you over to the next meal, and keep you from packing on extra pounds.

You can find find how many calories are in your favorite coffee drink, along with additional nutrition information at the links below:

Starbucks Drinks
Dunkin Donuts Drinks

(© MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)