Understanding Nutrition: What is the most unhealthy bottled drink in the US?

October 2, 2025 •

4 min read

According to recent reports, Fairlife's Core Power protein shakes have been labeled as an exceptionally unhealthy bottled beverage due to artificial ingredients. But pinpointing what is the most unhealthy bottled drink in the US involves looking beyond just one product and evaluating common categories packed with sugars and additives.

Quick Summary

An examination of the most unhealthy bottled drinks in the US reveals key culprits, including excessively sugary sodas, high-caffeine energy drinks, and products laden with artificial sweeteners and harmful additives like carrageenan.

Key Points

Fairlife's Core Power Cited: Some reports have labeled Fairlife's Core Power protein shakes as the most unhealthy bottled drink due to artificial sweeteners, carrageenan, and other questionable ingredients.
Sodas are Major Offenders: Traditional sodas remain a top concern due to their high content of added sugars, which contributes to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Hidden Sugars in 'Healthy' Drinks: Many bottled iced teas, juices, and flavored waters contain high levels of added sugar, providing empty calories despite their often-healthy marketing.
Energy Drinks Mix Dangers: The combination of high sugar, excessive caffeine, and stimulants in energy drinks can lead to increased blood pressure, stress, and sleep problems.
Artificial Sweeteners Impact Gut Health: Drinks sweetened with artificial chemicals like aspartame can disrupt the gut microbiome, affecting immunity and overall health.
Microplastics are an Unseen Threat: Ingesting microplastics from disposable plastic water bottles is a growing concern, with potential health risks still under investigation.
Prioritize Simple Hydration: Opting for plain water, seltzer with natural flavors, or unsweetened teas is the best way to avoid the harmful effects of most bottled beverages.

The Surprising Truth About 'Health' Drinks

When people consider the most unhealthy bottled drinks, sugary sodas often come to mind. However, many consumers are unaware that products marketed as healthy, such as protein shakes or bottled iced teas, can be equally, if not more, damaging to one's health due to hidden sugars and artificial additives. In recent news, Fairlife's Core Power protein shakes have received significant attention, with a food and nutrition magazine labeling them the unhealthiest bottled beverage in America. This was attributed to a combination of conventional dairy from GMO-fed cows, gut-irritating carrageenan, and artificial sweeteners linked to gut microbiome disruption. While a single product may hold this dubious title for a time, understanding the broader categories of beverages to avoid is crucial for a healthy lifestyle.

Perennial Culprits: The Standard Sugary Drinks

Long-time offenders like sodas and fruit 'cocktails' continue to be major contributors to poor health outcomes in the US. A typical 12-ounce can of cola contains approximately 10 teaspoons of added sugar, while some popular frozen lattes can contain even more. The sheer volume of added sugars in these drinks provides empty calories with no nutritional value and has been linked to numerous health problems.

Health risks associated with high sugar beverages include:

Obesity and Weight Gain: Liquid calories do not provide the same feeling of fullness as solid food, leading to increased overall caloric intake.
Type 2 Diabetes: Increased consumption is strongly linked to a higher risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
Heart Disease: High sugar intake can cause inflammation and raise triglyceride levels, stiffening arteries and increasing the risk of heart disease.
Dental Issues: The combination of sugar and high acidity, particularly in colas, can erode tooth enamel and lead to cavities.
Fatty Liver Disease: Excess fructose from sugary drinks is primarily processed by the liver and can be converted to fat, leading to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

The Problem with Modern 'Healthy' Beverages

In the era of health and fitness trends, new types of bottled drinks have emerged that are often surprisingly unhealthy. These products frequently use deceptive marketing to appear more nutritious than they are.

Deceptive bottled beverages and their hidden dangers:

Energy Drinks: Often packed with sugar and high levels of caffeine and stimulants. Besides providing excess sugar, they can cause increased blood pressure, stress, and sleep disruption. Some brands like Monster contain very high levels of both sugar and caffeine.
Sweetened Iced Teas: Many commercially bottled iced teas rival soda in their sugar content. Their regular consumption is linked to metabolic syndrome and an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.
Agave-Sweetened Drinks: Agave nectar is not necessarily a healthier sweetener. It contains a very high percentage of fructose (sometimes 80-90%), which, when consumed in excess, is converted to fat by the liver.
Artificially Sweetened Drinks: While sugar-free, artificial sweeteners like sucralose and aspartame can disrupt the gut microbiome, potentially affecting immunity and overall health.

The Unseen Threat: Microplastics

Beyond the nutritional content, the packaging of bottled drinks presents its own set of health concerns. The widespread use of plastic bottles means microplastics can leach into the liquid, and studies have shown that the simple act of twisting a cap can generate hundreds of microplastic particles. While the long-term health effects are still being studied, ingesting these particles is linked to concerns about inflammation, oxidative stress, and the transfer of harmful chemicals.

Comparison of Common Bottled Drinks

To illustrate the nutritional pitfalls, here is a comparison of common bottled beverages based on typical serving sizes:


Beverage Type	Typical Serving Size	Sugar Content (grams)	Calories (approx.)	Key Concern
Soda (e.g., Mountain Dew)	20 fl oz	77 g	290	Extremely high added sugar
Energy Drink (e.g., Monster)	16 fl oz	58 g	210	High sugar, high caffeine, and stimulants
Bottled Sweet Tea	20 fl oz	31 g	120	High added sugar, empty calories
Protein Shake (e.g., Core Power)	11.5 fl oz	26 g	240	Artificial sweeteners, carrageenan, non-organic dairy
Flavored Vitamin Water	20 fl oz	32 g	125	Added sugar, often misleadingly marketed

Choosing Healthier Hydration Alternatives

Fortunately, avoiding unhealthy bottled drinks doesn't mean sacrificing flavor. Numerous healthier alternatives exist that provide hydration without the detrimental effects of added sugars and artificial ingredients.

Healthier beverage alternatives:

Plain Water: The best and healthiest option for hydration. Use a reusable bottle to avoid microplastics from disposable plastic.
Seltzer or Sparkling Water: A great alternative to soda. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime for a natural flavor boost.
Unsweetened Tea: Brew your own iced or hot tea and flavor it with mint or fruit instead of sugar.
Coffee: Plain coffee or matcha tea are healthier than sugary bottled or frozen coffee drinks.
100% Fruit Juice (in moderation): While it contains natural sugars, it also offers nutrients. However, it should be consumed sparingly due to its high calorie density.

Conclusion

While a single product may be crowned the most unhealthy bottled drink in the US from time to time, the real issue lies in the pervasive presence of highly processed, sugar-laden, and artificially flavored beverages across all supermarket aisles. From traditional sodas and deceptive energy drinks to seemingly innocuous bottled teas and protein shakes, many popular options offer little to no nutritional value while contributing significantly to health risks like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The recent spotlight on Fairlife's Core Power underscores the need for consumers to read labels carefully and question marketing claims, even for products aimed at the health and fitness market. By choosing simple, natural hydration options like water and unsweetened teas, consumers can make a significant positive impact on their long-term health.

Choosing a Healthier Path

To learn more about healthy beverage choices, consult reputable resources like the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Nutrition Source, which offers evidence-based guidance.

Note: Specific product formulations can change, and new data can emerge. Always check current product labels and nutritional information for the most up-to-date details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fairlife's Core Power shakes were criticized for several reasons, including the use of non-organic dairy, the thickening agent carrageenan which may cause gut inflammation, and artificial sweeteners linked to gut health disruption.

While diet sodas contain fewer calories, they often use artificial sweeteners like aspartame or sucralose. Some research suggests these sweeteners can disrupt the gut microbiome, and many experts recommend water over diet drinks.

Most commercially bottled iced teas are heavily sweetened with sugar, sometimes rivaling the sugar content of soda. This high sugar load is associated with an increased risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

Agave nectar is very high in fructose. When consumed in excess from bottled drinks, the liver must process this fructose, which can lead to increased fat storage, especially as belly fat, and raises triglyceride levels.

Studies have detected microplastics in bottled water, suggesting consumers ingest these particles. Potential health effects include inflammation, oxidative stress, and the transfer of harmful chemicals, though research is ongoing.

Be wary of products labeled as 'juice cocktail,' as this term often indicates added sugar. Instead, look for beverages that explicitly state they are '100% fruit juice' and still consume them in moderation due to naturally occurring sugars.

The best alternatives are plain water, sparkling water with a fruit wedge, or unsweetened teas. These choices provide hydration without the unnecessary added sugars and artificial ingredients.