Intermittent fasting is one of the best ways to improve well-being. Many people consider this practice as one of the ideal ways to lose weight and improve physical and mental health, as well as other benefits.
Usually, intermittent fasting entails skipping meals that allow the body to use ketones rather than glucose. While skipping meals, checking what you eat or drink during mealtime is essential.
As many coffee lovers indulge in the fasting cycle, the biggest worry is; ‘does coffee break intermittent fasting?’ You will discover whether fasting will entail sacrificing your cup of coffee. Let’s dive together and see.
Can I drink coffee while fasting?
Anyone who is strict about intermittent fasting always considers the effects of food or drink before consuming. If you worry about messing up your cycle, coffee doesn’t cause any impact.
According to different health experts, drinking coffee during fasting is alright. However, it is recommendable to drink black coffee without additives.
Black coffee has no calories and hence won’t break intermittent fasting. Health experts say drinking coffee can add more benefits to fasting individuals.
Does black coffee break a fast?
The short answer is no. Black coffee is one of the drinks that contain very almost zero calories. A cup of plain coffee provides about 5 calories. Very few calories are digestible; hence, black coffee has super low calories.
Taking into consideration that coffee will need more energy than it supplies, it is said to be of negative-calorie food. Therefore, black coffee is a coffee that won’t break a fast.
Although black coffee doesn’t break fast, you should always keep it as planned. Adding other ingredients will add more calories.
What can I put in my coffee while fasting?
Since intermittent fasting strictly follows the rules, you can’t add anything to coffee. Some additives have high calories, which can lead to breaking your fasting. However, some safe additives will keep coffee safe for fasting.
Some of the recommended additives to your coffee during fasting include;
Cocoa, coconut oil, Nutmeg, almond milk, and cinnamon. These make coffee taste better without adding significant calories to break the fasting.
Does coffee with cream break a fast?
Well, the cream contains fat, proteins, and sometimes sugar. Adding it to coffee will affect your fasting, according to experts. Adding a small amount of heavy cream to coffee won’t break your fasting. ‘
One ounce of cream is enough to flavor your coffee. It has about 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of protein which are not significant enough to break a fast.
Are there benefits of coffee when fasting?
Drinking coffee while fasting brings some additional benefits. Since coffee is low in calories, it boosts the body’s performance without breaking the fasting. Some of the main benefits include:
Promotes brain health
Intermittent fasting, as mentioned, has lots of benefits to the body. Promoting brain health is one of the guaranteed results.
Adding coffee during fasting also complements in promoting brain health. Coffee is known to reduce Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Promotes body autography
Autophagy is the body’s ability to replace dead and damaged body cells. Since coffee has some vital chemicals, it promotes autophagy in conjunction with intermittent fasting.
Improved metabolism
Coffee is stimulant and boosts the body’s energy and mood. Drinking coffee while fasting is impressive since it will reduce inflammation and leads to a reduction of metabolic syndrome.
Drinking coffee is also associated with reduced chances of getting type 2 diabetes.
Reduced hunger feeling
Drinking coffee is linked to less hunger feeling among the people practicing fasting. Some people report feeling less hungry once they consume a cup of coffee.
What are the downsides of drinking coffee when intermittent fasting?
While many people report positive interaction with coffee during fasting, it doesn’t work for everyone. Some people have negative interactions.
Apart from personalized interaction, there are general instances where coffee drinking should be cautious. One case is people who suffer from hypertension. If you have high blood pressure, it’s always to get guidance from a health expert.
Besides, caffeine-sensitive people should not touch coffee during fasting. Because you are drinking coffee on an empty stomach, it can accelerate sensitivity. Also, drinking coffee on an empty stomach can lead to more acidity, causing irritations and stomach upsets.
What are the alternative drinks when fasting?
If black coffee isn’t your favorite beverage, other drinks can serve the purpose without breaking fasting. Some ideal drinks are; herbal teas, fruit water infusions, and low-calorie flavored coffee.
Final words
Drinking coffee while fasting proves that it won’t cause any issues as long as you keep it to the recommended amount. There are different ways to enjoy coffee safely and benefit more health-wise. As for whether coffee breaks intermittent fasting, you can enjoy your black coffee without issues.
