Should you drink coffee during Intermittent Fasting?

Drinking a cup of strong coffee is the much-needed wake-up call many people need first thing in the morning. Caffeine is also quite energizing in the middle of the day. But for someone who is following Intermittent Fasting, drinking coffee may not be the wisest idea.

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To be fair, drinking black coffee is permitted with Intermittent Fasting (during fasting and non-fasting hours). But again, how many cups of coffee is too much coffee? Will it break your fast? And, are there better drinks to be had with Intermittent Fasting?

We give you a low-down on the truth about having coffee during fasting, and the best ways to safely enjoy your fast

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Truth be told, low-calorie drinks like coffee can be safely enjoyed when you are following Intermittent Fasting. Low-cal drinks will not push your body out of fasting states, and hence, they can be safely had during both the fasting and eating window, or won’t really impact your progress in a significant manner.

Black coffee is the drink most dieters prefer to have.

Black coffee contains roughly 2-3 calories (depending on how you have it), some trace minerals and very low protein. If you were to think of having 2-3 cups a day, the calories and nutritive values won’t be enough to initiate a metabolic difference that would hamper weight loss. Hence, black coffee can be safely consumed.

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Coffee also carries additional health benefits if your prime goal is to lose weight.

Not only is coffee is a low-calorie drink, but it also works amazingly well in suppressing your appetite, reducing any hunger cravings you may be feeling, which is a great way to balance out Intermittent Fasting with your daily lifestyle.

There may also be some benefits that a person can have if they combine coffee and Intermittent Fasting. From improved brain function, reduced inflammation, tapering blood glucose levels, drinking coffee is also associated with a lower risk of metabolic syndrome.

Some clinical trials and animal studies have also found out that drinking coffee may also help dieters reach autophagy faster. Thus, it may be helpful to include a cup of joe in your fasting/ non-fasting window.

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Drinking 2-3 cups of coffee is okay for a day. However, overdoing this can invite consequences, push your calorie levels off the charts and may even make your diet unsuccessful.

Having excess cups of coffee is also linked to other drawbacks, including headaches, gastrointestinal problems, elevated heart rate, anxiety and sleep disturbances.

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That being said, not all forms of coffee can be easily had while you are Intermittent Fasting.

Do remember, while caffeine in itself may not be a bad ingredient, what you add to your coffee may make it unhealthy.

Adding excess amounts of sugar, whipping cream, topping ingredients (if you are having store-bought coffee) may add to your calorie count. Sugar alternatives like jaggery, honey, even if low-calorie, can still disturb your regime.

Again, adding milk may also be a contentious issue. While there are some who feel adding a spoonful or splash of milk to your coffee is okay and won’t break your fast, too much cream/ dairy or fat sources are best steered clear off.

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There are also many studies that have found that people who have elevated or higher blood pressure levels may not benefit from caffeine had while Intermittent Fasting. Caffeine may cause blood pressure levels to spike, so if you have existing issues, it’s best to check in with a doctor first.

Your consumption habits (i.e., if you prefer to have coffee with milk+sugar) can also differ depending on the type of Intermittent Fasting regime you are following, i.e. 5:2, 16:8 etc.

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Do remember that coffee is not the only low-calorie beverage that can be had during Intermittent Fasting.

There are multiple options you can choose from, as long as you don’t break the calorie consumption rule and stick by other rules of fasting.

Some of the best low-calorie drinks you can have include water, iced tea, black tea, green tea/ coffee/ lemon water.

As long as you follow the rule of moderation, keep calories under check and refrain from unnecessary additives, Intermittent Fasting will actually make a great load of difference to your lifestyle.

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