“I’m a dietitian and this fatal mistake during your intermittent fasting cancels out all its benefits”

According to some health experts, Intermittent fasting would be the best method to lose weight in the long term. While this technique has allowed thousands of people to slim down, it is also widely used to be able to eat whatever you want, without gaining weight. But does intermittent fasting really allow you to eat absolutely everything you want? For example, is it possible to drink coffee during intermittent fasting? Does its caffeine content cancel out the effects of fasting and therefore all the efforts made for hours? While the debate rages, an army of nutritionists is now answering the question.

Is coffee forbidden during intermittent fasting?

According to a 2022 study published in the magazine Nature Reviews Endocrinology, the act of following a intermittent fasting program can help you lose weight in the short and long term and may also improve blood pressure, LDL cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance. That said, the fasting process can be restrictive and cause you to question everything you put into your body, including those delicious lattes you can’t live without in the morning. Should you avoid coffee during intermittent fasting ? Many people wonder, in fact, whether it is okay to sip coffee outside of your fasting window, or whether it is best enjoyed only during meal windows. Here’s what dietitians have to say.

First, know that since a cup of black coffee contains no fat and provides almost no calories, it will not break your fast. This is what Barbie Boules, dietitian, nutritionist and certified health coach assures us. On the other hand, the usual small additions such as syrups, milk and sugar add fat and calories, which means that it breaks the fast. Therefore, your usual order at your favorite coffee shop is to be abandoned during your fasting period. Note that the more calories you give your body, the more it must use external fuel for energy, which means that it will not use the glucose stored in your fat cells, in theory.

What type of coffee to consume during intermittent fasting?

“Adding milk to coffee interrupts the fast. Whether it is cow’s milk, oat milk or almond milk, because they all contain calories, even if minimal.” says Roxana Ehsani, a nutritionist in Miami, Florida. So note that macchiatos, lattes, flat whites, cappuccinos, mochas and coffee with milk, should not be consumed during the fasting period. If you want to enjoy coffee while fasting, your best options are black coffee, decaf coffee, classic espresso or Americano (espresso and hot water). You can drink them hot or iced, depending on your taste.

“The general rule of thumb for what to put in your coffee is to add anything that has virtually no calories.” explains dietitian Keri Gans, author of the book “The Small Change Diet”. “In other words, try to taste it black” she adds. But if you don’t like to drink your coffee plain, note that you can then add a pinch of cinnamon, a touch of nutmeg, a tiny bit of cocoa, a sugar substitute or a low-calorie sweetener like Splenda.