Ever had a coffee date with a friend or your spouse?  It’s crazy what a good atmosphere and beverage can do for a conversation!  We all have our favorite drink order and when we have it in our hands, it’s hard not to get in a better mood.  Hey, y’all – Melissa here!  Full disclosure – I am not a coffee person.  If you ever catch me at a coffeehouse or the Starbucks drive-thru, a good ol’ chai tea latte is my beverage of choice. 🙂  However, despite my dislike for coffee, most people do love it.  I’m very excited about this post mostly because coffee is the love language of many of my clients!  I know you probably feel like a whole new woman after you have your caffeinated coffee in the morning.  However, in the nutrition community, coffee and caffeine can be touchy subjects – there are so many questions about what it does to your body and brain.  Allow me to try to answer some of these big questions and fill you in – coffee talk, let’s go!

What are the benefits of drinking coffee?

• Coffee is high in antioxidants (compounds that seek out free radicals* and keep them from doing harm to our body!)
• Since coffee does a good job of destroying free radicals (therefore helping to prevent you from getting life-threatening diseases), this can increase your longevity of life!
• Drinking coffee may reduce depression
• Coffee contains essential vitamins and minerals
• Caffeine in coffee can help improve one’s physical performance
• Studies have shown that coffee can help you burn fat by boosting metabolism
• Coffee can increase energy levels and brain function

Click here for more information and benefits!

*Free radicals cause things like cancer and heart disease.

What about side effects?

Before you get too excited and start a coffee-only diet on me, let’s talk about some of the side effects of too much caffeine.

• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Digestive problems
• Muscle breakdown
• Caffeine addiction
• High blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Tiredness
• Increased urination and an overactive bladder

Click here for a more in-depth look at the side effects of caffeine!

Does coffee dehydrate me?  What is the recommended daily amount for caffeine?

Short answer: no.

Studies have shown that if you abide by the FDA-recommended daily limit for caffeine (400 mg or about 4-5 cups of coffee), coffee will not pose a threat to your body’s fluid balance.  If you go beyond that, it has been shown to cause dehydration and fluid imbalance.

Caffeinated vs. decaffeinated coffee?

So, guess what: decaf coffee still has caffeine in it.  To be fair, it’s very little compared to how much a caffeinated cup has, but the decaffeination process only requires 97% of the coffee beans to be decaffeinated. If you’d like to read more about it, click here.

There are also questions swirling around regarding if decaf coffee is bad for you.  We know the benefits of drinking caffeinated coffee, but what about decaf?

In a 2019 study, it was shown among the participants that caffeinated coffee showed a higher mood improvement than decaf coffee.  Another 2017 review states that decaf coffee has been shown to have similar health benefits to that of caffeinated coffee!

Should I cut out sugary coffee?

Moderation is key.  Restriction can lead to impatience and irritation which can lead to binging and guilt.  Nobody wants that!  Here’s a tip, though: pay attention to how you feel after enjoying your drink.  Does your stomach hurt?  Do you feel sluggish?  Maybe it’s time to pick another go-to drink that will make you feel good both during AND after you’ve drained the cup!  In addition, if you’re preparing your own coffee, pay attention to how much sugar you are adding.  Try measuring out how much you are putting in and ask yourself if you really need all of it.  Try adding a little less and see if it still tastes good to you!  The goal is to find a happy medium between minimizing sugar consumption while still loving the taste of your coffee!

Weight loss and coffee can go hand-in-hand – coffee’s ability to boost metabolism is a great tool for fat burning!  Just make sure that you are mindful of the quantity of sugar being added to your cup.  It’s so easy to let sugary beverages creep in and steal the progress you’re making – don’t let them!  As always, enjoy in moderation and remember what you are striving for – a happier, healthier you!

I hope you’ve learned something from our quick coffee talk – feel free to comment or leave any additional questions!