All over the world, coffee is one of the most popular drinks. There are many ways to prepare it. Many people periodically wonder whether it makes them fat or thin? There is no direct answer. For example, from pure black coffee - no, but there may be various additives that need to be taken into account. To determine whether this drink can make you fat, you should calculate the number of calories and take into account the nutritional ingredients that affect the loss or gain of pounds.
Calorie content
If you are getting fat or gaining weight from caffeine, a natural grain drink consumed in its pure form will not become a source of extra pounds. Coffee beans contain a large amount of vitamins B1, B2, PP, but a minimal portion of carbohydrates, proteins and fats.
Coffee beans have a pronounced diuretic effect, as they remove excess fluid from the body and effectively fight swelling. Due to their dietary properties, they are widely used for weight loss - there are even special coffee diets. But they have a lot of contraindications. It is not recommended to follow such a diet for more than 3 days, and restrictions are not recommended for people under 18 years of age and over 38 years of age.
To answer whether coffee makes you fat or not, you need to take into account that many people like to add other ingredients to the drink - cream, milk, granulated sugar. As a result, the coffee product becomes several times more caloric.
Causes of obesity from coffee
Even if you enjoy espresso without high-calorie foods or additives, don't go overboard. It is not recommended to drink more than 3 cups of strong coffee per day . Only then will the drink not harm a person and improve metabolism, due to which the process of losing weight will begin.
Interesting! Is it possible to drink coffee at night?
It is not recommended to drink espresso instead of food or on an empty stomach. This drink can satisfy your hunger, but only for a couple of hours. Then the appetite will increase significantly, which entails uncontrolled eating of food. You should also avoid drinking caffeinated drinks before bed.
Caffeine causes insomnia, which leads to diabetes and hormonal imbalances. The consequence of these diseases is obesity.
Effect on metabolism
Whether coffee makes you fat depends on whether the drink is consumed in its pure form or with the addition of various components. Black coffee is very healthy, but in small quantities - no more than 2-3 cups throughout the day. In this case, the drink will not make you feel better.
Effects of caffeine on appetite:
- Natural drink contains chlorogenic acid, which controls the level of insulin sensitivity - a small amount of caffeine increases it, as a result of which fat accumulates slowly. With an increased amount of caffeine, the opposite effect occurs, leading to weight gain.
- Drinking large amounts of the drink leads to increased production of the hormone cortisol - as a result, carbohydrates accumulate, which contributes to the appearance of excess weight.
- Coffee has a stimulating effect on people; excessive amounts of the drink lead to stress, which can cause uncontrolled overeating.
Whether coffee makes you fat – the answer depends on how much coffee you drink throughout the day and what additives you drink it with. The most high-calorie drinks are those with honey, grated chocolate, and whipped cream. One cup of this delicacy can contain up to 500 calories. Accordingly, 2-3 cups of such a drink can replenish the calorie content of the entire daily diet.
Without sugar and milk
Coffee without sugar and milk is an aromatic, invigorating drink that you can drink without any harm to your figure. Any diet can be supplemented with this drink, but in moderation.
It has been scientifically established that a natural unsweetened drink helps you lose weight - it takes part in the metabolic process in the body, promoting the rapid burning of fat.
Different types of coffee beans differ in their calorie content - this depends on the method of roasting and preparation. One cup of a natural drink without additives contains 20-22 calories.
Coffee with sugar
Drinking coffee with added sugar is allowed if a person wants to gain weight. Every cup of sweet drink you drink contributes to this. One teaspoon of added granulated sugar, depending on its variety, contains from 32 to 90 kcal.
Coffee makes you fat, because while drinking a sweet drink, the body receives a significant dose of carbohydrates of the so-called “fast” type. These substances, which affect the metabolic rate, are deposited in the form of fat.
Coffee with milk
Whether you get fat or not from coffee with milk, which is often added to soften the bitter taste of the drink, you need to keep in mind that the calorie content of a cup with such an additive is much higher than without it.
You can gain weight from coffee with milk if you drink more than 5-6 cups of this liquid throughout the day. In order not to gain weight, you should drink a drink with the addition of a low-fat dairy product and no more than 2-3 cups.
Whether coffee makes you fat or thin depends on the composition of the drink. If you add sugar to milk, the extra pounds will not take long to appear. 3 teaspoons of sugar increase the calorie content of the drink by 30-120 calories, and 2 tablespoons of milk - by another 30 calories. In order not to gain weight, lovers of this sweet drink should not forget about regular physical activity.
Coffee with cream
Whether you get better from coffee or not, drinking with cream is very good for your health, because it contains many micro- and macroelements, amino acids, and other useful components. This drink is simply irreplaceable during intense physical work.
But people who lead a sedentary lifestyle recover very quickly from this drink. 100 g of cream with 20% fat content contains about 200 calories, and the lowest calorie cream with 10% fat content will increase the calorie content of coffee by 130 calories. When losing weight, you should avoid such delicacies, as they only make you gain weight.
Supplements for best results
With spices, the drink comes out more catchy and savory. In addition, they themselves help improve digestion. Fragrant cinnamon and cardamom added to coffee will help break down fat. Spices include essential oils, plant fibers, organic acids and vitamins. All these substances have a beneficial effect on the functioning of all organs and systems.
For example, cinnamon is considered an ideal additive that imparts a good taste and allows you to quickly achieve the desired result. Coffee with cinnamon and cardamom is a real method to lose excess weight.
Slimming coffee
Coffee makes you gain weight and lose weight - it depends on the amount of drink consumed, the type of beans and the presence of various additives. To ensure that a cup of aromatic drink does not cause extra pounds, you need to follow several rules for its use:
- It is recommended to drink coffee at least 3-4 hours before bedtime - otherwise the metabolism is disrupted, which negatively affects weight loss;
- It is recommended to drink no more than 2-3 cups of aromatic drink throughout the day - this is completely harmless to the figure;
- For those who want to get rid of several kilograms, it is best to opt for natural black coffee without sugar or other additives;
- an excellent healthy alternative would be teas, herbal infusions, vegetable, fruit and berry juices, fruit drinks and compotes;
- A hot drink should never be consumed as a substitute for a full meal;
- After sports training, you must stop drinking coffee, otherwise all the lost kilograms can quickly return.
Coffee is an invigorating, aromatic drink with which the morning of many men and women begins. If you drink coffee correctly, in limited quantities and taking into account basic recommendations, this drink will not harm your figure.
Why does coffee make you lose weight and get fat?
Caffeine helps burn fat in the body. The increased hormone adrenaline compresses fat cells and releases them into the blood. This has a beneficial effect on lipolysis (fat burning). But it is impossible to lose weight only by drinking coffee.
To completely burn fat, you need physical activity. If you do exercises after a cup of strong espresso, fats will begin to break down faster.
The properties of caffeine promote weight loss, but you can also gain weight from it. This happens in several cases:
- Uncontrolled consumption of caffeinated drinks.
- Adding high-calorie foods (milk, sugar, syrups).
- Eating high-calorie and fatty foods as a snack.
Read more about the composition in the article “What you need to know about the calorie content of coffee.” We will deal with cases where coffee makes people lose weight or gain weight.
Effect of caffeine on the body
Caffeine itself, as the main element of coffee beans, contains almost no proteins, fats or carbohydrates. And even on the contrary, it helps to lose weight, as it stimulates all processes in the body, including metabolic ones, and is able to speed up metabolism. It is not for nothing that coffee is actively used to reduce cellulite and is part of many diets.
At the same time, caffeine can increase the level of the stress hormone - cortisol, and when there is a lot of it, the body actively absorbs glucose, and we immediately want to eat, and sweet things. In stressful situations when drinking a lot of coffee drinks, you can gain weight simply because you start eating a lot of sweets or eating fast food (there are also a lot of sweeteners, albeit subtle ones).
Thus, coffee may directly or indirectly influence weight gain or loss. By controlling yourself, you will not gain weight, and you will even be able to get rid of extra pounds.
Now let’s look at the features of caffeine-containing drinks with and without various additives.
How to drink coffee without gaining weight
There are many ways to enjoy your daily cup of coffee without gaining weight.
The most important tip is to avoid adding extra sugar to your coffee. Sugar is present in many flavored creamers and pre-made lattes—and many people also add table sugar or liquid sweeteners to their coffee.
Here are some ways to reduce your sugar intake while improving the taste of your coffee:
- Add cinnamon to it.
- Use unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, or both.
- Instead of sugar, use a small amount of a natural, non-nutritive sweetener such as stevia.
- Add a few drops of vanilla extract.
- Melt some quality dark chocolate in a small cup of coffee.
Although adding coconut milk to your coffee adds little sugar, it does contain more calories than other additives. To prevent excessive calorie consumption, it is best to use a small amount of this product when making coffee.
Coffee has a bitter taste, so you may need to gradually reduce the amount of sweetener you add to adjust your taste buds. For example, the next time you buy a sweet latte, try asking for half the usual amount of flavoring syrup.
Better yet, make coffee at home. This will not only allow you to control the amount of sweetener, but also save money.
If you like bulletproof coffee, try sticking to healthy fats like organic butter or coconut oil and drinking small amounts. Also, be careful with your calorie intake levels to avoid over-consuming calories.
Conclusion:
When drinking coffee, you can minimize your risk of weight gain by limiting the amount of added sugar, adding healthier flavors, and avoiding excess calories.