Lipton ice tea also known as Lipton iced tea is a refreshing ice tea that has recently gained a lot of popularity in India and is consumed a lot during the summer months. Personally, even I prefer Lipton ice tea over cola drinks because of its amazing refreshing taste but occasionally. Although Lipton is not harmful to your health there are some ingredients in it that do not have any health benefits at the same time.
So today in this article we will be analyzing and reviewing the various ingredients in Lipton ice tea and will be determining if it is safe for our health. Let’s begin.
Ingredients in Lipton ice tea
- Water
- Sugar
- Acidity regulators (330,331)
- Black tea extracts
- Preservative 202
- Antioxidant 300
- Concentrated lemon juice
Nutritional information of lipton ice tea (100ml)
| Nutrients | Amount |
| Energy | 37Kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 9.3g |
| Sugar | 9.3g |
| Total fat | 0g |
| Protein | 0g |
| Sodium | 11mg |
Analyzing ingredients and reviewing Lipton ice tea
Water
The first ingredient mentioned is water. As I have already mentioned in my previous articles that the first ingredient mentioned in the packaging generally tends to be the main ingredient and also is present in the highest amount. Water is indeed the main ingredient in Lipton ice tea. Since this is a drink, water is bound to be the main ingredient.
Sugar
The second ingredient mentioned in the packaging is sugar. About 100ml of Lipton ice tea contains 9.3g of sugar. A bottle of Lipton ice tea that is available in the market is about 250ml. So calculations say that an entire 250ml bottle of Lipton ice tea contains about 23-25g sugar which surpasses your daily requirement of sugar. But Lipton ice tea can be considered better than sodas and colas as there are no harmful colors or chemicals added to it. Also, the amount of sugar is also not too high and can be fixed if you are working out on a regular basis.
Acidity regulators
Lipton ice tea mentions the presence of acidity regulators 330 and 331. These two acidity regulators are a form of citric acid and are not at all harmful to our health. Rather they work as antioxidants in our body and can be considered good.
Black tea extracts
Lipton ice tea mentions the presence of 0.14% black tea extracts. Of course, this is an ice tea recipe and black tea needs to be present in it. The quantity of black tea is very less but can be considered good as too much tea can result in poor sleep and reduced iron absorption.
Preservative 202
Preservatives are generally added to a product to increase its shelf life and prevent microbial growth. Preservative 202 also known as potassium sorbate is not good for our health. Various studies show potassium sorbate has side effects on health which includes asthma, eczema and allergenic reactions. These side effects are generally seen when you consume this preservative in larger amounts. The amount of preservative used in Lipton ice tea is very less and can be considered safe.
Antioxidant 300
Antioxidant 300 is also known as Vitamin C which is actually great if you have Vitamin C deficiency in your body. The choice of antioxidant and acidity regulators by Lipton is top class.
Concentrated lemon juice
Concentrated lemon juice should not be confused with the regular lemon juice that we make in home. Lemon juice is made concentrated by concentrating the lemon juice in the form of syrup or crystal form and then added to the product. As a result, lemon juice loses all its health benefits and vitamins during processing. So the Vitamin C present in Lipton ice tea is not from the lemon juice but has been separately added to this product. Concentrated lemon juice further enhances the taste and flavor of the product.
Calories in this product
A 250ml pack of Lipton ice tea contains about 93Kcal of energy which is not that much and can be easily made up just by cycling or walking for 10 minutes. The problem lies in the source of the calorie. 100% of the calories are coming from simple sugar in Lipton ice tea. This may result in instant spiking of insulin which is not at all good for your health. So it is always recommended to include complex carbohydrates and salads if you are taking simple sugar way too much so that everything gets balanced out.
Conclusion
So after completing the review it can be concluded with the fact that Lipton ice tea is safe for your health if you are drinking it occasionally. It is far better and safer compared to Mirinda, Fanta or any other colas available in the market. It has a refreshing and stimulating taste that keeps you hydrated during the summer months. Moreover, it does not contain any salt, so you can also drink it during fasting. Along with this, it does not have any artificial flavor and color. The only drawback is that it contains a high amount of sugar but it can be controlled by regular exercise and occasional consumption. Lipton ice tea cannot be claimed too healthy but yes it is safe and better than most other soft drinks in the market.
This article is not sponsored by any food company. Being a pharmacist, this is entirely my view so that you get a complete brief about a product and determine if it is safe for your health or not.
ALSO READ
Is Kellogg’s corn flakes actually healthy?
