Can You Drink Coffee While Doing Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting has become a popular dieting method among those seeking to reduce their calorie intake and slim down. For those unfamiliar with this lifestyle, intermittent fasting is where you go through periods of eating and not eating, often known as fasting periods. One big question on many people’s minds when approaching this lifestyle is if they can still drink their daily cup of coffee while fasting?
What is Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting is a popular method that consists of cycles of not eating, usually for 16 hours, and eating for 8 hours. This is usually done every day, for example some might choose to fast for 16 hours a day, allowing 8 hours for breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. Many people set themselves a period to follow this, from anywhere from one to three months.
Reasons for Trying Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is often adopted for weight loss purposes, allowing for a period of time for food to digest and calories to be burned, making sure that when eat balanced and healthy meals, minimal calories are taken in. There are also other benefits, such as increased focus and productivity, improved mental clarity, and a reduction in inflammation.
Does Coffee Have Any Effects on Fasting?
Coffee is an interesting item when it comes to the debate, as it has been found to actually suppresses the appetite, effectively leading on to a decrease in the amount of food consumed when eating. Hence coffee, which has a relatively small amount of calories, (the calories depend on how it is prepared), could potentially be your way of ‘breaking a fast’ as it does not contain as many calories, allowing for one to still maintain their overall calorie intake for the day, whilst being able to break the fast.
What Are the Benefits of Drinking Coffee During Fasting?
Studies have found that not only does coffee suppress the appetite, but there is also the significant increase in metabolism due to the caffeine, thus leading to weight loss and an overall increase in thermogenesis which is the amount of energy in your body. Many studies have also found that coffee has an impact on the appetite hormones and thus may lead to a reduction in the total calorie intake, thereby aiding anyone needing to drop weight.
What Is The Impact Of Water While Fasting?
Another question that is often asked is can one drink water while fasting? The answer is yes, of course water can be consumed while fasting. There is, however, no scientific evidence that states that water can aid or reduce the amount of weight lost while fasting. Research has found that drinking water during fasting can actually help in some way through the production of ketones in the bloodstream, which has been known to reduce hunger, but unfortunately only for very short-term.
Expert Opinion
Many experts say that intermittent fasting should be taken with caution and that no one should jump blindly into such an extreme diet. It is, however, possible to drink coffee while fasting as many medical and health practitioners have said, it could even potentially influence more weight loss than if just fasting alone.
For example, a study conducted by The University of California San Francisco Division of Nutrition found that results from the study “suggest that coffee may have assisted in reducing the overall amount of calories consumed during mealtime, thereby aiding with weight loss”.
The Consumers’ Research also conducted a small case study to assess the effects on drinking coffee while fasting and found that although there were no major differences in terms of overall weight loss, “observed that participants felt increased alertness and focus, which could be credited to the caffeine found in the coffee”
How Much Coffee Can You Drink On Intermittent Fasting?
When thinking of your caffeine intake while intermittently fasting remembering to try and not overindulge or overdo it. Caffeine can be an appetite stimulant, so it’s important to consider the amount being consumed, whether this is a cup of coffee or tea. Recommended amounts vary from person to person, but remember, too much caffeine can actually have a negative effect when intermittent fasting.
Should You Drink Coffee During Fasting?
Ultimately it is down to personal choice. Coffee can be quite helpful in assisting weight loss when fasting, depending on how it is taken. A sensible intake of coffee while fasting, such as 1-2 cups a day should not have a detrimental effect, and as studies have found, could actually prove to be beneficial in aiding weight loss.
What About Other Added Ingredients?
The addition of sugar, syrups, unhealthy creams and other added ingredients could potentially lead to overdoses in sugar, meaning more calories and thus more weight gain. Therefore, remember to opt for healthier options that have no to very little added ingredients, such as coffees, teas and other infusions that contain no added sweetener, syrup or cream.
Tips on Combining Intermittent Fasting and Coffee Drinking
For those interested in trying intermittent fasting and still be able to enjoy their daily cup of coffee, here are some tips which should be kept in mind. Firstly, before starting to fast, it is important to find out what works best for you and the lifestyle you lead. Secondly, the amount of caffeine intake is important, as studies have found that too much might decrease the effects of the fast. Thirdly, always opt for healthier options and ingredients to ensure your cup of coffee or tea does not contain too many added calories. And lastly, speak to your GP and/or a nutritionist before embarking on any lifestyle, as they will be able to help you, advise and monitor you during your journey.
Conclusion
Overall, coffee can be enjoyed during intermittent fasting, although it is important to monitor your caffeine intake and opt for healthier ingredients. While coffee can help you during these fasting periods, relying on it solely to help you with weight loss and achieve your goals is not recommended, as in the case of any diet, exercise and a balanced and healthy diet is key to any weight loss journey.
