Think fast before choosing your cuppa
IF YOU’VE committed to intermittent fasting, you want to do it properly. There’s no point skipping meals for 12 hours or drastically cutting calories for 24 hours to then go and undo all that hard work for a caffeine fix.
But we all know the power of coffee. It is a siren call in the morning that is hard to resist, and then there are the health benefits of coffee.
So, will having a coffee in the morning break your fast?
If you’re having it with milk, yes. You’re ingesting a fair number of calories, plus it comes with a fair carbohydrate and protein load. If you’re having it black, maybe. Bulletproof coffee: Whether you add butter, coconut oil or
MCT oil you’re technically breaking the fast because the fat = calories, and you can’t be fasting if you ingest calories.
But if you’re fasting to induce ketosis or to increase insulin sensitivity, you may be in the clear. If it’s pure fat, it generates ketones and a study has shown caffeine helps with ketosis.
Coffee with nut milks: Nut milks are essentially crushed nuts and water, so as long as you stick to the ones with no additives – such as sugar or fortified versions with extra protein – you’re OK to add a little.
When you’re at a coffee shop, it’s best to stick to black coffee. If you want to add some ‘milk’ ask about their nut milks. If it’s unsweetened, it’s OK to add a little to your coffee but avoid almond milk lattes as there’s about 30ml of milk in there, which will break your fast.
bodyandsoul.com.au