Intermittent Fasting Coffee
Can You Have Coffee When Intermittent Fasting? What to Know
Intermittent fasting has become a popular diet choice among thousands, if not millions, of people worldwide. If you have started it, you may have wondered if you can still have your daily cup of coffee while waiting for your “eating window.” After all, some people may find it more difficult skipping their cup of coffee compared to giving up food for up to 24 hours!
With that in mind, can you have caffeine when following this diet? Or, will you have to cut it out or take a special intermittent fasting coffee? I answer all your questions about coffee and intermittent fasting!
Can You Have Coffee When Intermittent Fasting?
Intermittent fasting may have strict rules on what you can and can’t consume during your fasting period. Following these rules can give you benefits not only centered around weight loss, but also provide you better energy, less of the brain fog, and a better fitness journey overall.
So, is your daily cup (or cups!) of coffee part of the "can eat" or "can't eat" list?
There is good news and “bad” news about this!
The good news: If you’re worried about coffee interfering with your diet, not to worry. Coffee will NOT break your fast!
The “bad” news: You can only have your coffee black, without any sugar, creamers, or other additives. Straight-up coffee won’t interfere with one’s goals, as it contains almost zero calories and won’t take you out of your ketosis, which is the state when your body burns fat rather than carbs for energy and fuel. I put word bad in quotation marks because it’s not really BAD for your health to skip on sugar..
However, when you begin adding calorific additives like milk, or sugar, that will stimulate insulin secretion and break your fast.
Ok but, what about “Intermittent Fasting Coffee”, or “Bulletproof Coffee”, or “Keto Coffee”, are those ok during fast?
Above means that you are adding butter and MCT oil to your coffee. From purist point of view, this breaks your fast because it contains calories. But, fat has lowest effect on insulin production (after carbs and protein) which means that little bit of fat in your coffee will have a minimal effect on insulin. If you are drinking “MCT coffee” or “Keto Coffee” - that’s called “fat fast”. To get maximal benefits of Intermittent fasting - stay away from adding fat to your coffee. If that helps you to push your meal to little later - go for it!
About Drinking Coffee
Besides it being allowed in your intermittent fasting diet, did you know black coffee can also benefit your weight loss goals?
It isn't only very low in calories, but it may also suppress your appetite and help you gain more energy and focus for a busy day ahead. This is especially helpful for those who need caffeine or a kick to keep working hard during their fasts. Other benefits include better metabolism, reduced inflammation, improved brain health, among others.
But, be wary, as too much coffee has its negative side effects. For instance, those who are acidic or suffer from heartburn may end up suffering from pain and discomfort when drinking black coffee without consuming anything. Also, too much caffeine can lead to heart palpitations, increased blood pressure, and poor sleep quality, among others.
It's always best to check with your doctor to know how much caffeine you can take and if you are allowed to take black coffee during your fasting period, depending on any conditions you may have. In general, though, it's safe to have your black coffee while intermittent fasting.
Wrapping It Up
While intermittent fasting restricts you from food and drinks for a certain period of time, you can still take black coffee and other low-calorie drinks. Just be wary about your caffeine consumption and monitor your progress with it as you go. Good luck with your diet and share your experiences in the comments section below!
