What Happens To Your Body When You Drink A Pumpkin Spice Latte

Wondering just how bad Pumpkin Spice Lattes are for you?

Dump a spoonful of sugar in your coffee... Now do it eleven more times. Pretty gross, right? But that's exactly what's in a grande Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks - 12 teaspoons of sugar! When made with 2 percent milk and whipped cream it contains about 20 percent of the calories and fat you should have in a day without providing the body any actual food.

Here's what happened to your body after consuming one:

1.  After five minutes.  Drinking something sweet activates your brain's reward system and triggers the release of endorphins.  But if you're sensitive to a preservative called potassium sorbate, you might start to get a headache.

2.  After 15 minutes.  The 12 teaspoons of sugar you just drank begin to raise your blood sugar, but the 14 grams of fat from the milk and whipped cream slow the spike, so you don't feel as hyper as you would after drinking a can of soda.

3.  After 20 minutes.  Your blood sugar continues to rise, which triggers the release of insulin.  And you should be feeling slightly energetic, as the stimulating effects of caffeine begin to kick in.  But if you're sensitive to it, it can act as a laxative.

4.  After 30 minutes.  As your body absorbs the fat you drank, triglycerides enter your blood stream.  And over time, high triglyceride levels can clog your blood vessels, raise your cholesterol, and increase your risk of heart disease.

5.  After four hours.  Your blood sugar crashes, so you start to crave food.

Experts say to enjoy in moderation and you'll be fine unless you have prior medical conditions and need to be closely monitoring your diet.