Is Black Coffee Good For Weight Loss? Let’s Find Out
Written by Nishant Garund
Medically Reviewed by
Dr.Varuni Agarwal
Dr. Varuni Agarwal is an esteemed Ayurvedic physician specializing in
diagnosing diseases through Ayurvedic dosha imbalances and providing personalized treatments. She
focuses on ahara (diet) and vihara (lifestyle) to manage and heal various ailments.
Have you heard that coffee can help reduce weight? Right? But what kind of coffee can help in reducing weight? While many coffee drinks boast delicious flavours, black coffee reigns supreme for weight management. Let's dive into how this simple beverage can support your weight loss journey.
Nutritional Breakdown Of Black Coffee
Black coffee is a great choice for those seeking a low-calorie beverage. Unlike coffee loaded with cream and sugar, black coffee boasts a clean nutritional profile:
- Zero Calories, Fat, and Cholesterol: Black coffee helps you stay within your calorie goals without added sugars or fats. (0%)
- Potassium Boost: It provides a small amount of potassium (around 4%), a mineral essential for healthy blood pressure and muscle function.
Black Coffee and Weight Loss
While four cups of coffee might sound extreme, black coffee can be a helpful tool for weight management. Here's why:
- Calorie Control: Black coffee is naturally calorie-free, unlike coffee loaded with milk and sugar. This helps you cut down on your overall calorie intake, a key factor in weight loss.
- Fat Burning Boost: Black coffee contains caffeine, which may help increase your metabolism and promote fat burning to a small degree.
How To Drink Black Coffee For Weight Loss?
When trying to focus on your weight loss journey, the key is to drink coffee without sugar and milk. Similarly, it should be noted that black coffee should be taken without any additives like sugar, any other flavour, or cream. Black coffee consists of chlorogenic acid that is known for promoting weight loss and increased metabolism rate.
Ideally, it’s perfect to take your black coffee as it is but you can add a little flavour to it, or to reduce the bitterness, you can add some nut milk, making black coffee a good option for weight loss.
Is Black Coffee Good For Weight Loss In the Morning?
Coffee isn’t a medicine that’s supposed to be taken at the right time. Yet if you are drinking coffee in the morning, you are on the right track. The reason is that in the morning, our body produces higher levels of cortisol that help our body get up and go. In the morning, these hormones are at their peak; they supercharge your metabolism, consequently leading to increased energy and weight loss potential.
Also, as coffee suppresses your appetite, when you drink coffee in the morning, it helps you to consume fewer calories throughout the day, reducing your cravings.
Benefits of Black Coffee for Weight Loss
There are multiple proven benefits of black coffee for weight loss, which include:
- Calorie Burner: Studies suggest black coffee can boost your metabolism slightly, potentially burning more calories throughout the day. This effect can be further amplified if you drink it before a workout.
- Curbs Cravings: The caffeine in black coffee can increase energy levels and may suppress appetite, helping you avoid unnecessary snacking.
- Reduce Water Weight: Black coffee has a mild diuretic effect, meaning it increases urination. This can help shed some water weight, though it's important to stay hydrated overall.
Side Effects of Black Coffee For Weight Loss
Even though black coffee is beneficial for weight loss, if not taken in the right quantity, it does result in side effects like:
- Increased Stress Hormones: When too much black coffee is consumed, it releases high levels of stress hormones resulting in stress and anxiety. The ideal amount is to have four cups of coffee daily.
- Messed Up Sleeping Routine: Black coffee shouldn’t be consumed in the evening because the caffeine in it suppresses adenosine production that helps your body to sleep.
- Acidity: Due to the high levels of caffeine and acids present in black coffee, it can upset your stomach or, worse, lead to acidity and diarrhoea.
- Difficulty in absorbing minerals: When coffee is consumed in unregulated amounts, it is difficult to absorb minerals from a daily diet like iron and calcium due to the presence of caffeine that’s diuretic.
Conclusion:
Black coffee can be a helpful addition to a weight loss plan when consumed in moderation. Individual reactions differ, as usual, so pay attention to how your body responds and modify your intake accordingly. Its low calorie content, potential to boost metabolism, and ability to enhance exercise performance make it a favourable choice for many. However, it's essential to combine coffee consumption with a balanced diet and regular physical activity for optimal results.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is black coffee good for weight loss?
Black coffee is beneficial for weight loss due to its low calorie content, boosts metabolism, acts as an appetite suppressant, and enhances exercise performance. However, caution should be exercised with added sugars and creamers and individual tolerance to caffeine and potential side effects like anxiety or sleep disturbances.
2. Can I drink black coffee?
Black coffee is a popular choice, but it should be consumed in moderation. It's important to monitor caffeine intake, consult a doctor if you have health conditions, ensure hydration, and consider timing. Some people prefer to avoid coffee later in the day for sleep issues.
3. How many cups of black coffee should I drink a day to lose weight?
The amount of black coffee one drinks each day does not ensure weight reduction because it depends on a variety of personal characteristics, including metabolism, level of exercise, and food composition.
4. Can I drink black coffee at night?
It’s advisable to not consume coffee at night, as it takes around 5 hours for the effects to wear off. It can hamper your sleep schedule due to the suppression of adenosine production.