The study analyzed data from thousands of people to try to answer this question
A study recently published on The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that drinking coffee without sugar is associated with a small weight loss, while adding sugar to the drink is linked to weight gain.
The work examined data from three large North American health studies: the Nurses’ Health Study, the Nurses’ Health Study II and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study. This gave researchers access to a large amount of data and participants. They then selected only those who met certain criteria to avoid factors that could interfere with the results. In total, just over 155 thousand participants were included.
Details such as how often members consumed coffee, whether or not the drink contained caffeine, and whether consumers added milk, cream, or sugar were assessed.
The researchers also looked at weight changes that occurred every four years. Other factors that could interfere with body fat were taken into consideration, such as consumption of certain foods, alcohol intake, physical activity and medical conditions.
The researchers found that drinking 1 cup of coffee per day, whether decaf or regular, was associated with a loss of 0.12 kilograms (kg) of body weight over 4 years.
In contrast, adding one teaspoon of sugar per day was associated with a weight gain of 0.09 kg over 4 years. These associations were stronger among participants with a higher BMI (body mass index) and younger age. Adding cream or milk was not associated with significant weight gain.
The authors concluded in the study article that the strategy of including sugar-free eating in the routine may be interesting for avoiding excess weight, although the contribution is modest and the results have yet to be confirmed in larger research.
It’s worth remembering that too much coffee can be harmful, especially for those who are sensitive to the effects of caffeine. Therefore, before you excessively increase your intake, be sure to talk to your doctor about what limits are considered healthy for you.
In general, experts recommend not exceeding 3-4 cups of drink, equivalent to approximately 400 mg of caffeine per day. And don’t forget: chocolate, black tea, energy drinks, some medications and supplements are also sources of caffeine!
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
