Free Slurpee Day At 7-Eleven Ups Drink Size From 7.11 Oz To 12: How To Avoid Slurpee-Induced Hyperglycemia
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Ah, if only the Founding Fathers were able to celebrate their first week of independence with a refreshing Slurpee. Alas, Free Slurpee Day is a modern holiday, and 7-Eleven customers can now enjoy 42 percent more free Slurpees this 7/11. But before you go 7-Eleven-hopping on your day-long Slurpee conquest, keep in mind the toll such an endeavor can take on your body.
Keeping in theme with the holiday, last year's Free Slurpee Day offered 7.11-oz. cups of the frozen treat. This year, the company says, to avoid mess and pacify hordes of disgruntled mothers, 7-Eleven has increased the size of their cups to allow the use of lids. But at nearly 100 calories and 27g of sugar per 12 oz. serving, a Slurpee binge can quickly turn into a diet-ruiner or worse.
"Slurpee is the back-to-the-future part of our culture," said brand guru Allen Adamson. "For teens on a budget, 'free' is a great motivator - especially on a hot, summer day when they have nothing else to do."
But free can be a dangerous incentive, especially when the July heat pushes us toward that which refreshes us: Slurpees are served fountain-style at a cool 28 degrees.
The most popular flavor of Slurpee has long been Coca-Cola, a 12 oz. serving of which contains 97 calories and nothing else but 27g of sugar, or the carbohydrate equivalent of 1 ½ Snickers bars.
If you have plans of celebrating 7-Eleven's 86th birthday throughout the day, consider spacing out your Slurpee consumption periodically. And like alcohol consumption, drinking water along with your Slurpee will help your body metabolize and digest the frozen drink.
Not to mention, cutting the drink's high sugar content will save your teeth from almost certain decay.
"Each and every time bacteria come in contact with sugar or starch in your mouth, acid is produced, which attacks the teeth for 20 minutes or more," says the American Dental Association (ADA), which adds that artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, the primary ingredient in diet Slurpees, can have detrimental effects as well. "This can eventually result in tooth decay," the ADA warns.
"Diet soft drinks rely on nonnutritive sweeteners instead of sugar. They are also acidic and may increase the risk of enamel erosion, although the research on the role of soft drinks and tooth erosion is preliminary."
Experts urge consumers to see their free Slurpees as a summer indulgence, not a regular beverage. Consuming two free Slurpees may seem harmless; however, the average consumer probably wouldn't see eating three Snickers bars in one day as a wise dietary decision.
Slurp responsibly, America.