A recent study published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that drinking an additional cup of plain coffee every day might help you avoid gaining weight over four years. But here’s the twist: if you stir in just one teaspoon of sugar, that benefit disappears.
Interestingly, the study also revealed that adding “cream or non-dairy coffee whitener” didn’t impact your weight either way. So if you’re watching your waistline, it’s best to stick to black coffee without sugar.
Retrospective study results about drinking coffee
Scientists from the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, gathered information from three long-term retrospective studies: the Nurses’ Health Study (1986-2010), the Nurses’ Health Study II (1991-2015), and the Health Professional Follow-up Study (1991-2014).
Their research focused on understanding how your coffee-drinking habits relate to changes in your body weight every four years. People in the study filled out surveys in which they answered questions about the foods and drinks they consumed.
The scientists studied how much regular coffee and decaffeinated coffee people drank. They also recorded whether or not people added sugar, non-sweeteners, or cream to their coffee.
What they discovered was that having one additional cup of plain coffee every day was linked to losing around 0.26 pounds in four years. However, those who put in an extra teaspoon of sugar gained about 0.20 pounds during the same time frame.
How sugar in a cup of coffee affects body weight
The connection between drinking coffee and adding sugar to it and how it affected body weight was stronger in younger people and those who were overweight or obese. Nutrition experts who weren’t part of the study also weighed in on these results.
Erin Palinski-Wade, a registered dietitian from New Jersey, explained, “Increasing intake of a warm, low- to no-calorie beverage may improve body weight, as increasing fluids, especially warm fluids, can improve the feeling of satiety, which may lead to fewer overall calories consumed throughout the day.”
Including sugar in your coffee might cancel out the weight loss benefit because sugar adds extra calories without making you feel full, according to Palinski-Wade.
Advantages of using creams or whiteners
Using certain creamers or whitening agents could have some advantages. Palinski-Wade explained, “Milk and creamer additions can add protein/fat, which may help with satiety.”
“In addition, few individuals use excessive quantities of milk or creamer as they do with added sugar, due to a preference for sweets.” Furthermore, people tend not to use as much milk or creamer as they do sugar, as sugar is often preferred for its sweet taste.
Conversely, people who consume unsweetened cup of coffee may be more inclined to be mindful of reducing the extra sugar in their overall diet, according to Palinski-Wade.
COFFEE TREATS DIABETES
Each additional cup of coffee you drink per day (up to 6-8 cups) decreases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 5-10%.Follow for more @coffeetarian88 @_AfricaCoffee @BoughtonsCoffee @BeanMugginCC @BwamiCoffee @coffee_unite @CoffeeBeastsCom pic.twitter.com/bcTyMlLgJN
— 90+COFFEE (@CoffeeGlo) September 21, 2022
Kim Kulp, a registered dietitian-nutritionist and owner of the Gut Health Connection in San Francisco pointed out that the study identifies a connection between sweetened coffee and long-term weight gain.
However, it doesn’t conclusively prove that a small amount of sugar in your coffee directly causes weight gain. Kulp explained, “A teaspoon of sugar contains 16 calories and only 4 grams of carbohydrates.”
She further said, “This tiny increase in calories by itself isn’t likely to cause weight gain, but it may tell us something about those who prefer to start their day with a little sweetness.”
She also highlighted the need to consider other factors, such as whether people who add sugar to their coffee consume more sugar in their daily diet and other lifestyle aspects. “Most of the time, weight gain is about so much more than just one food,” Kulp emphasized.
Experts stressed the importance of consulting a healthcare professional when addressing dietary concerns or embarking on weight loss efforts.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
