Uncle Matt’s vs. Starbucks: When It Comes to Your Smart Sip of the Morning, There’s No Comparison
From smoothies to coffee to juice to tea, there are a number of beverages you could choose to start your morning off with. One thing to keep in mind before you grab that breakfast sipper: not all sugars are created equal. While coffee may be your preferred way to boost your morning energy, and furthermore, a trip to a particular coffee shop might be part of your daily routine, have you ever thought about what’s in that flavored cup of coffee? We’re breaking down the nutrition and ingredients in one of Starbucks most popular beverages to show you why Uncle Matt’s Organic Orange Juice is the superior way to start your day!
To start, the nutrition facts are stacked heavily in OJ’s favor! Uncle Matt’s Organic Orange Juice contains no added sugars. That’s right, we don’t add anything to our orange juice to sweeten the flavor. The sugar in our OJ is only what Mother Nature naturally provides in the fruit. The sweetness indicator in organic orange juice comes from something called brix. We wait until brix is high before harvesting our oranges for peak sweetness!
It might surprise you to know that your body reacts differently to natural sugar versus added, processed sugars. Natural sugars have a lower glycemic index which means they don’t spike your glucose levels in your blood as quickly as refined sugar. While an 8oz glass of OJ has 22 grams of natural fruit sugar, OJ has a lower glycemic index than many would realize. Read more about these different types of sugars and how they affect your body in our Q&A with Uncle Matt’s Head of Research and Development, Ben McLean III.
Our organic orange juice is made from just one ingredient – organic oranges! You know exactly what you’re getting in each delicious, cold glass of OJ. Plus, that glass of organic goodness also comes with many other health benefits. Nutrients such as Vitamin C, Vitamin A, potassium, folate, thiamin, magnesium, Vitamin B6, carotenoids, phytonutrients and flavonoids all contribute to a healthy lifestyle. Plus, OJ is fat free, too!
Now let’s discuss one of Starbucks most popular hot beverages: the White Chocolate Mocha. For starters, the ingredient list is long! This comes from the flavor additives in the white chocolate mocha sauce and whipped cream. One ingredient that stands out in these add-ins is sugar! There’s an estimated 27 grams of sugar in one short 8oz White Chocolate Mocha compared to OJ’s 22 grams in a glass the same size. Additionally, the sugar in this coffee drink isn’t natural. It’s mostly refined, added sugar.
When comparing the nutrition labels, you’ll see that this coffee drink has more than double the calories of orange juice. A white chocolate mocha also has 11 grams of fat, 30mg of cholesterol and 125mg of sodium compared to OJ’s zeros for each of those categories. Something else that stands out, the main reason your probably drink a coffee drink in the morning in the first place, the caffeine! A White Chocolate Mocha unsurprisingly has about 75mg of caffeine per 8oz cup. Orange juice, of course, has no caffeine. While caffeine is fine to consume in moderation, a clean caffeine source without the added flavors and preservatives might be a better alternative to sugar-laden coffee drinks.
Considering the refined sugar content alongside the long list of processed ingredients used in a Starbucks White Chocolate Mocha, it’s easy to see why nature-made orange juice is your smart sip option for the morning. Plus, the nutritional benefits of orange juice provide a natural boost to your body’s overall health compared to the short-term energy spurt from caffeine. Cheers!
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in December 2016 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness.
