Why Rethink Your Asian Drink?

Obesity and diabetes are at epidemic levels. However, often times Asian Americans are left out of this conversation because of a misconception that skinny means healthy. Obesity rates in Asian Americans are low based off of current BMI rates, but this doesn’t present the entire picture, especially when we know that Asian Americans are more likely to have something called “skinny fat.” While Asian Americans have a rate of diabetes at 10 percent (compared with 7 percent of whites) a recent study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) shared that more than half of Asian Americans with diabetes are undiagnosed. 

Sugary drinks are the single biggest source of dietary calories and a major contributor to Type 2 diabetes.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the maximum amount of added sugars you should eat in a day are:

• Men: 150 calories per day (37.5 grams or 9 teaspoons)
• Women: 100 calories per day (25 grams or 6 teaspoons)

Americans consume 200 to 300 more calories each day than we did 30 years ago. Nearly half of these extra calories come from sugar-sweetened drinks. More calories mean extra weight. One can of soda a day can add up to 10 pounds or more of weight gain in a year. But what happens when we look beyond just mainstream drinks like soda?

Many people know drinking soda everyday is not good for your health, but Asian drinks can be just as bad. For example, boba milk tea can have as many calories as a McDonalds double cheeseburger 1.

This website was created to raise awareness for health concerns caused by these drinks. No we are not saying to never drink your favorite Strawberry Aloe drink or boba ever again. We’re saying understand what’s in these drinks so you can make healthier choices!

IN NUMBERS:

• 19 grams of sugar, 300 calories: Nutrition facts of Boba, more sugar or calories than a Snickers bar
• > 50%:  The percentage of Asian-Americans with diabetes and do not know it ³
• 23: Asians who have a Body Mass Index of 23 should be tested for diabetes ⁴