Snapple Tropical Mango Antioxidant Water (20 ounces)

• 150 calories
• 0 g fat
• 30 g sugars

Sugar has only one function, and that is to make you fat. Bottlers of the so-called functional beverages try to hide this fact behind huge cloud of healthy buzz terms, such as antioxidants. Too bad two of the three antioxidants in this bottle are actually vitamins A and E, both of which are fat soluble, making it difficult for the body to absorb in a fat free beverage. If you want flavored water, make sure it comes without calories.

Drink this instead: Health Management and Nutrition Kiwi and Berry drink

• 60 calories
• 0 fat
• 1 carbohydrate
• 12 g protein (to curb your appetite)

9. Worst Energy Drink

Rockstar Original (16 ounce can)

• 280 calories
• 0 g fat
• 62 g sugars (who needs it?)

Americans spent $4.2 billion on these high energy drinks in 2008. Even with dozens of brands found in the cooler, Rockstar stands out as the most sugar laden of the various energy drinks. Compared to it's closest competitor, it has 20 extra calories, which is just enough to make it the worst possible choice for instant energy.

Drink this instead:

Monster Lo-Carb Energy (16 ounce can)

• 20 calories
• 0 g fat
• 6 g sugars

8. Worst Bottled Coffee

Starbucks Coffee Frappuccino (13.7 ounce bottle)

• 290 calories
• 4.5 g fat (2.5 g saturated)
• 46 g sugars (who needs this?)

Drink this instead:

Click Espresso Protein Drink

• 120 calories
• 1.5 g fat (o saturated fat)
• 7 g sugars

Click also contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals like, vitamins A,C,D,E,K,B-12 as well as a host of minerals too numerous to mention here. Call me for a list of all micro nutrients in Click.

7. Worst Hot Chocolate

Starbucks Venti 2% Salted Caramel Signature Hot Chocolate (20 ounces)

• 760 calories (Gut Buster)
• 37 g fat (22 g saturated)
• 85 g sugars
• 380 mg sodium

It appears that Starbucks' monster creation, the classic winter comfort beverage is now loaded with more than a full day's worth of saturated fat and as much sugar as 4 Hershey's Chocolate Bars.

Drink this instead:

Health Management and Nutrition Creamy Hot Chocolate

• 70 calories
• 1 g fat (0 saturated)
• 3 g sugars
• 220 mg sodium
• 12 g protein

6. Worst Cocktail

Red Lobster Traditional Lobsterita

1. 890 calories
2. 0 g fat
3. 183 g carbohydrates

Lobsterita is a lobster tank-size glass full of booze and high-fructose corn syrup. You would have to drink 4 regular on-the-rocks margaritas to outdo this massive calorie load. Have one with your dinner and you might be pushing a full day's calories in one meal.

Drink this instead:

Malibu Hurricane

• 200 calories
• 0 g fat
• 36 g carbohydrates

5. Worst Float

Baskin-Robbins

Large Ice Cream Soda w/Vanilla Ice Cream Float (32 ounces) Who can eat 1 quart at one sitting?

• 960 calories
• 40 g fat (25 saturated, 1.5 trans fat)
• 136 g sugars

If you are going to have a float, it's best to limit yourself to one small scoop of ice cream and a reasonable pour of soda, yet Baskin-Robbins' smallest portion is 32 ounces. Unfortunately, if B-K doesn't begin offering smaller sizes, your options are limited. Either split a small float or cut the soda out of the float.

Eat this instead:

Vanilla Ice Cream Scoop (4 ounces)

• 260 calories
• 16 g fat (10 g saturated, 0.5 trans)
• 26 g sugars

4. Worst Ice-Blended Coffee Drink

Cosi Gigante Double OH! Arctic (23 ounces)

• 1,210 calories ( Mega Gut Buster)
• 19 g fat
• 259 g carbohydrates

How does Cosi's coffee reach such dizzying caloric heights? By dropping an Oreo cookie into the blender with a cascade of chocolate syrup and the popping another Oreo on top. The only thing stronger than the massive caffeine jolt will be sound of the "thud" of the sugar crash that is sure to follow. These blended coffee drinks would be more accurately described as caffeinated milk shakes.

Drink this instead:

Click Espresso Protein Drink

See nutritionals above for comparison. One portion of Click is equivalent to 12-14 ounces of brewed coffee and if it's a jolt you want Click is up to the task while providing low sugar, low fat and high protein. It can be fixed hot or cold and is delicious in either form.

3. Worst Milk Shake

Cold Stone Creamery "Gotta Have It" PB&C Shake

• 2,010 calories (This defies description)
• 131 g fat (68 g saturated) Beyond Heart Attack in a Cup
• 153 g sugars (It's a wonder it doesn't put you in a diabetic coma!)

The PB&C is intended to denote peanut butter and chocolate, but the most accurate translation might be potbellies and cardiovascular disease. This one drink packs more calories than 12 ice cream sandwiches and more saturated fat than nearly 20 large orders of McDonald's french fries. And moreover, there is no shake on Cold Stone's menu, not even the small ones, that fall below 1,000 calories. It's better to choose a small ice cream and reserve the use of the remaining 1,640 calories for a food of some nutritional value.

2. Worst Smoothie

Smoothie Kings The Hulk, Strawberry (40 ounces)

• 2,088 calories
• 70 g fat
• 240 g sugars

In all fairness, this smoothie is designed to help people gain weight. The problem is that we live in a nation in which two thirds of our population is overweight and the number of professional body builders does not constitute a viable or significant demographic. If you want to pack on some pounds, just eat 13 of Health Management and Nutrition Crispy Cinnamon Bars. That's how many it would take to match this caloric load.

Drink this instead:

Health Management and Nutrition Strawberry Yogurt Smoothie

• 100 calories
• 1 g fat
• 5 g sugars
• 15 g protein

This smoothie is loaded with vitamins and minerals and is super healthy. If you want a list of the micro nutrients just give me a call.

1. Worst Drink in America

Baskin-Robbins Large Chocolate Oreo Shake

• 2,600 calories (No Comment)
• 135 g fat (59 g saturated fat, 2.5 trans fat)
• 263 g sugars
• 1,700 mg sodium

If this is not the worst drink on the planet I don't know what is. The 70 plus ingredient list reads like an organic chemistry final and it packs this shake with more sugar than 29 Fudgesicles, as much fat as a stick and a half of butter and more calories that 48 Oreos. It has 3 day's worth of saturated fat and as much salt as you will find in 9 bags of Lay's Classic Potato Chips.

Drink this instead:

Health Management and Nutrition Creamy Chocolate Pudding and Shake Mix

• 100 calories
• 1.5 g fat
• 4 g sugars
• 280 mg sodium
• 15 g protein

This particular pudding and shake mix will positively contribute to a healthy lifestyle if that is what you want.

You can see by the above information that corporate America can give a rats ass about your health and well being. They are out to sell volume and separate you from your money, health aside. If you care about your well being, your health, your future and want to stick around to see you grandchildren grow then you need to run, not walk, away from these companies that are selling these horrendously unhealthy products. Our lot in life is to help you remain healthy, assist you in reducing your waistline and contributing to your overall well being. We are here for you and if you need help you know you are welcome to call anytime.

Be well.

Gene C.