This is where you have control. If you make lemonade at home, you can cut the sugar by half—or use alternatives. Try honey, stevia, or just mash a few berries into the mix for sweetness.
Store-bought lemonade, on the other hand, is often a trap. Look at the label: many brands use high-fructose corn syrup or artificial flavors. Minute Maid’s lemonade has 27 grams of sugar per cup. That’s basically a candy bar in liquid form.
And don’t get me started on “healthy” craft lemonades from coffee shops—they’ll sneak in simple syrup until your lemonade tastes like dessert. (I’m looking at you, trendy $6 lavender lemonade.)
The Electrolyte Myth
Some people drink lemonade after a workout for “electrolytes.” Listen—lemonade has potassium from lemons, but not enough to replace what you sweat out. You’d need to drink a gallon of fresh lemon juice to match a sports drink.
Also, the sugar in lemonade actually slows down hydration, because your body has to process the glucose first. So if you’re thirsty after a run, reach for water—or coconut water—and save the lemonade for a treat.
But hey, if you like the taste, it’s still better than soda, right? (Sort of. Soda is nutritional garbage, while lemonade at least has a few redeeming qualities.)
Is Lemonade Good For You? | Food For Net
