Extra Daily Coffee Associated with Lower Weight Gain
The ritual of coffee consumption is a deep-rooted part of many cultures around the globe. A recent study conducted by researchers from the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts, discovered that adding an extra cup of unsweetened coffee each day could be associated with a reduced risk of gaining weight over a four-year period.
This study was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on October 1.
The researchers gathered data from three prospective cohort studies: the Nurses’ Health Study (1986-2010), the Nurses’ Health Study II (1991-2015), and the Health Professional Follow-up Study (1991-2014).
The focus of the investigation was to analyze the relationship between coffee consumption habits and body weight changes during four-year intervals. Participants filled out questionnaires about the foods and beverages they consumed.
Extra Daily Cup of Coffee Might Aid Weight Management
The study explored both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption and considered how the drinks were prepared, whether with sugar, non-sweeteners, or cream. According to the findings, an additional cup of unsweetened coffee per day was associated with a decrease of 0.12 kilograms or 0.26 pounds over a four-year period. Conversely, participants who increased their daily intake by one teaspoon of sugar, gained 0.09 kilograms or 0.20 pounds over the same period.
Erin Palinski-Wade, a registered dietitian based in New Jersey, shared her views on the findings with the media, suggesting that increasing intake of a warm, low- to no-calorie beverage might improve body weight, as increasing fluids, especially warm fluids, can improve the feeling of satiety, which might lead to fewer overall calories consumed throughout the day. However, adding sugar could negate the weight loss benefit associated with coffee, as sugar can be a source of extra calories without providing a feeling of satiety.
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However, the study pointed out that adding “cream or non-dairy coffee whitener” did not affect the weight.
Palinski-Wade mentioned that adding certain creamers might have benefits as they could add protein/fat, which might help with satiety.
Kim Kulp, a registered dietitian-nutrition and owner of the Gut Health Connection in San Francisco, mentioned that the study shows an association between sweetened coffee and long-term weight gain, but that’s very different from showing that a small amount of sugar added to coffee actually causes weight gain.
Both experts emphasized the importance of discussing any dietary concerns or weight loss efforts with a healthcare professional. They also highlighted that weight gain is often related to many other factors beyond just one food or drink.
With information from Fox News
