Your Body After a PSL

Fall is finally here, which means changing leaves, oversized sweaters, caramel apples sprinkled with cinnamon, and—of course—pumpkin spice lattes. A pumpkin spice latte, or PSL for short, is a classic treat during the wondrous season that is fall. However, it’s no secret that a pumpkin spice latte isn’t the most nutrition-dense drink available. So, what does a PSL do to the body besides filling it with warmth and joy?

Within 5 Minutes

Sipping on something sweet stimulates your reward system, activating the release of “feel-good” chemicals (endorphins) in the body. But if you are sensitive to caffeine, even the small dose in a PSL can function as a laxative. So, you better hope that your local coffee shop’s restroom isn’t ocupado. And if you are sensitive to potassium sorbate — a preservative added in most PSLs — you might develop a headache.

Within 10 to 15 Minutes

Did you know that a typical pumpkin spice latte has at about 12.5 teaspoons of sugar? According to the American Heart Association, the maximum amount of added sugars men should consume in a day is nine teaspoons, while women should have only six teaspoons. In a nutshell, drinking this seasonal latte douses your body in sugar.

In 10 to 15 minutes, your blood sugar might start rising, but the 14 grams of fat from your PSL’s milk and whipped cream reduce the spike.

Within 15 to 20 Minutes

Your blood sugar proceeds to rise, triggering a discharge of insulin, which plays a role in helping your cells convert sugar into energy. If you ate a cookie, muffin, or anything sugary with your latte, the chances are that your cells are already packed with sugar. As a consequence, your body might store the sugar you drank as fat.

You should be feeling suuuuuper buzzed and energetic, particularly now that the stimulating effects of caffeine are kicking in.

Within 20 to 30 Minutes

As your body begins absorbing the fat you’ve consumed, fat particles (triglycerides) will enter your bloodstream soon after. High triglyceride levels are associated with clogged blood vessels, increased levels of bad cholesterol, and lowered healthy cholesterol, all of which can raise your risk of heart disease. 

Within 45 to 60 Minutes

At last, your stomach absorbed the caffeine you drank. The average person will not feel jittery because of how low the caffeine dosage is in a PSL. But as the fat continues to pulse through your system, your blood vessels might struggle to dilate or expand the way they should, which may induce dangerous blood clotting if you are not your healthiest from the beginning.

Within 3 to 4 Hours

Hours after drinking your delicious pumpkin spice latte, your blood sugar has dropped, and the fat you’ve consumed has left your gut. At this point, you might start craving calories that don’t come in a cup. Also, traces of caffeine should still be in your system, which could keep you awake past bedtime.

Whether you are a coffee drinker, a pumpkin spice aficionado, or both — it would be wise to avoid pumpkin spice lattes, or at least indulge only on occasion and modify the concoctions. Or else, not only will you gain a significant amount of weight this season, but you are also putting your health at risk.