Whether you start your day with a steaming hot cup of joe or prefer an afternoon iced latte as a pick-me-up, most of us have a preferred way of taking our coffee. However, while black coffee does have its health benefits (it can even help with weight loss!), adding the wrong ingredients to the mix can unfortunately lead to consequences. Oftentimes, that includes inflammation and weight gain. In fact, your go-to coffee ingredient could be holding you back from your weight loss goals.
To shed some light on one inflammatory coffee ingredient that could make it difficult to lose weight, we spoke to Rachel Scott, Co-Founder and Medical Practitioner at National TASC. She told us that sugar-loaded flavored syrups are one of the biggest culprits. Find all of her expert insight on this tasty but fattening beverage add-in below.
Sugary syrup
Vanilla syrup in your cold brew? A splash of pumpkin spice flavor in your oat milk latte? We have to admit that these ingredients can be pretty tasty. But unfortunately, they can also do some damage to your waistline. Experts agree that leaving sugary syrup out of your coffee is a good idea if you're trying to lose weight.
According to Scott, there are several risks at hand when it comes to flavored syrups—mainly due to all the sugar they can add to your cup. Excessive sugar intake can lead to a range of consequences, including inflammation and weight gain.
Starting your day with a heavy helping of syrup in your morning joe could lead to blood sugar spikes. "The bad thing about refined sugar is that the body is able to metabolize and break them down rapidly so it causes a spike in blood sugar levels," Scott explains. "In turn, there is an overproduction of insulin. If this continues, your body will have insulin resistance which can lead to diabetes and other heart diseases. This can also cause you to have a hard time losing weight." Yikes!
But don't fret. There's still hope for people who don't love the taste of sweetener-free black coffee. While taking your coffee black is likely the best way to go for your health, adding some natural sweetener, like monk fruit, to your cup is a good compromise.
Additionally, sprinkling some cinnamon in your coffee may also have promising benefits, including a faster metabolism.
No matter how you choose to enjoy your coffee (even if you can't resist a bit of a syrup), remember that the key to weight loss is always moderation. Which is to say that if you want to treat yourself to a Pumpkin Spice Latte every now and then, it won't kill you. It's a good idea not to indulge in sugary drinks every morning, though—your body will thank you.
READ MORE: Why People Who Drink Coffee Every Morning Burn Fat More
