Does caffeine have an impact on body weight? Do you need to stop drinking coffee and restrict your caffeine intake to shed those pounds? Find out the answers to your questions in the article. Read on. This caffeine intake keeps increasing with bigger servings and stronger roasts. Studies show that acute caffeine intake may increase blood sugar levels and prolong the period of the increased sugar levels (2). Increased blood sugar can also increase insulin levels and cortisol levels, resulting in low metabolic activity and weight gain. Insulin is the hormone that regulates carbohydrates and fat metabolism in your body (3). Elevated levels of insulin can make the cells less sensitive to its signals (insulin resistance). It is important for the cells to be insulin sensitive if you want to lose weight or prevent the accumulation of calories. Coffee can reduce insulin sensitivity, cause weight gain, and increase diabetes risk. But does this mean you must give up on coffee to lose weight? Let us understand.
Do You Need To Stop Drinking Coffee To Lose Weight?
No. Drinking coffee is fine as long as you don’t over consume it. Limit its intake to about 2 to 3 cups a day. Excess coffee intake can stall your weight loss journey. Read on to understand how.
Why Drinking Too Much Caffeine Can Stall Weight Loss
How the body responds to caffeine depends on one’s health, body mass, and metabolism. Every person metabolizes caffeine at a different rate. Individuals with faster metabolism absorb the antioxidants in coffee quickly and get it out of the system. But those with slow metabolism hold the caffeine in the system for longer. This can elevate blood sugar levels and may increase abdominal fat. However, regardless of how fast or slow your body metabolizes caffeine, too much coffee can derail your weight loss goals. Besides caffeine, the other ingredients in your coffee could also lead to weight gain. In the next section, we will explore these ingredients and the other reasons your coffee could be making you gain weight.
Reasons Your Coffee Is Making You Gain Weight
Sugar Syrups And Add-Ins
Relishing coffee with excess sugar syrup or any other sweet ingredient can add more calories
Larger Serving
A large coffee serving loaded with sweet ingredients can cause weight gain if consumed every day.
Whipped Cream
Whipped cream can enhance the coffee’s taste, but it also increases calories.
Sweetened Milk
Coffee enriched with almond milk, oat milk, etc. is high in sugar. In addition, flavored milk may contain added sugar.
Bottled Coffee
Bottle coffee may be a convenient option to enjoy a quick drink, but it is loaded with sugar.
Full-Fat Milk And Sugar
Coffee made with full-fat milk and sugar is way higher in calories. Note: Not just sugars, even the amount of caffeine intake may affect your weight loss efforts. Knowing the upper limit of your caffeine intake helps you relish your coffee without having to worry about weight gain. Continue reading to know the ideal caffeine dosage.
Upper Limits: The Ideal Dose Of Caffeine In Weight Loss
Research suggests that 400 mg or less of caffeine per day is an acceptable dose for healthy adults (4). One serving (180 ml) of brewed coffee normally contains about 100 mg of caffeine (5). You may want to keep those values in mind before picking your next cup of coffee.
Benefits Of Drinking Coffee
Studies suggest that regular coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing type-2 diabetes (6). Moreover, its caffeine content stimulates the nervous system besides increasing adrenaline and cortisol levels in the body (7), (8), (9). Consuming caffeine in low doses may also help refresh your senses, reduce anxiety, and elevate mood (10). The polyphenols present in coffee have antioxidant properties. These plant compounds may reduce inflammation and oxidative stress — the two factors which are responsible for causing many ailments, including obesity (11), (12). Studies indicate that long-term coffee intake may reduce the risk of stroke (modestly), heart disease, and certain cancers (13), (14), (15). Besides, this beverage is also known to lower estrogen levels, which may help reduce the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women (16). Coffee intake is also associated with a reduced risk of gallstones in your body (17). Besides, studies suggest that caffeine may also reduce the incidence of Parkinson’s disease in healthy individuals. It may also slow down the progression of motor symptoms in those already affected (18). Research also reveals that higher coffee intake may reduce the risk of all-cause mortality. Similarly, drinking coffee moderately (3 cups/day) may also decrease the risk of CVD mortality (19). Does cold coffee increase weight? Coffee can be brewed in different ways based on the type of beans used and the ingredients added to the beverage. Take a look at the infographic below to learn how the top coffee varieties are made and choose the one that’s right for you. Yes. Excess consumption of cold coffee may increase weight, as cold coffee may contain cream, sugar, caffeine, and other ingredients, which may contribute to weight gain. Does coffee make you gain water weight? No, coffee does not make you gain water weight. Will coffee creamer make me gain weight? Yes. Excessive consumption of coffee creamer may make you gain weight.
