Mind Boggeling

I recently received an email that sort of shocked me.

I'm not an addict of bottled/canned beverages such as energy drinks, juices, sodas, teas, etc., but I do occasionally drink them. Normally when traveling. Some would think I would drink more of them with my sweets addiction, but I'm more into candy, ice cream and desserts.

Anyways, the email was the 20 Worst Drinks in America 2010.

Here's the couple that surprised me. I included a link to the entire list, so check it out. Very interesting.

Number 18: Worst Energy Drink

Rockstar

Sugar Equivalent: 6 Krispy Kreme Original Glazed Doughnuts

None of the energy provided by these full-sugar drinks could ever justify the caloric load, but Rockstar’s take is especially frightening. One can provides nearly as much sugar as half a box of Nilla Wafers. In fact, it has 60 more calories than the same amount of Red Bull and 80 more than a can of Monster. If you’re going to guzzle, better choose one of the low-cal options. We like Monster; it offers all the caffeine and B vitamins with just enough sugar to cut through the funky extracts.

This one irked me a bit because it is in several alcoholic shots/bombs. Guess you should request Red Bull from now on:).

Number 17: Worst Bottled Coffee

Starbucks Vanilla Frappuccino

Sugar Equivalent: 32 Nilla Wafers

With an unreasonable number of calorie landmines peppered across Starbucks’ in-store menu, you’d think the company would want to use its grocery line to restore faith in its ability to provide caffeine without testing the limits of your belt buckle. Guess not. This drink has been on our radar for years, and we still haven’t managed to find a bottled coffee with more sugar. Consider this—along with Starbucks’ miniature Espresso and Cream Doubleshot—your worst option for a morning pickup.

I used to drink this A LOT in college. I never knew it was that bad for you!

Number 16: Worst Soda

Sunkist

Sugar Equivalent: 6 Breyers Oreo Ice Cream Sandwiches

Wait . . . but aren’t all sodas equally terrible? It’s true they all earn 100 percent of their calories from sugar, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t still varying levels of atrocity. Despite the perception of healthfulness, fruity sodas tend to carry more sugar than their cola counterparts, and none make that more apparent than the tooth-achingly sweet Sunkist. But what seals the orange soda’s fate on our list of worsts is its reliance on the artificial colors yellow 6 and red 40—two chemicals that may be linked to behavioral and concentration problems in children.

Loved this when I was a kid.

Number 15: Worst Beer

Sierra Nevada Bigfoot

Carbohydrate Equivalent: 12-pack of Michelob Ultra

Most beers carry fewer than 175 calories, but even your average extra-heady brew rarely eclipses 250. That makes Sierra’s Bigfoot the undisputed beast of the beer jungle. Granted, the alcohol itself provides most of the calories, but it’s the extra heft of carbohydrates that helps stuff nearly 2,000 calories into each six-pack. For comparison, Budweiser has 10.6 grams of carbs, Blue Moon has 13, and Guinness Draught has 10. Let’s hope the appearance of this gutinducing guzzler in your fridge is as rare as encounters with the fabled beast himself.

I don't drink this beer, but I was shocked to see that one beer has the same carb intake as 12 Mich Ultras! Maybe some of my adventurous beer drinking friends drink this?

Number 3: Worst Drive-Thru Shake

McDonald's Triple Thick Chocolate Shake

Sugar Equivalent: 13 McDonald's Baked Hot Apple Pies

There are very few milk shakes in America worthy of your hard-earned calories, but few will punish you as thoroughly as this Mickey D’s drive-thru disaster. Not only does it have more than half your day’s caloric and saturated fat allotment and more sugar than you’d find in Willy Wonka’s candy lab, but Ronald even finds a way to sneak in a full day of cholesterolspiking trans fat. The scariest part about this drink is that it’s most likely America’s most popular milk shake.

This makes me sad because they are mighty tasty. I don't get them often, but the 13 apple pies makes me sick.

See full list of 20 Worst Drinks in America 2010