The Worst Ingredient To Put In Your Coffee If You’re Trying To Lose Weight, According To A Nutritionist

Non-dairy creamers are bad for you because they are made from many artificial ingredients that can be detrimental for your health. Many people opt for a non-dairy creamer because they are trying to avoid milk, or because these artificial creamers add flavors to your coffee, but the truth is that these kinds of products contain many added ingredients that are typically high in trans fats and calories.

“‘Creamers’ contain no actual cream,” registered dietician Dana Angelo White, MS, RD, AT, wrote on FoodNetwork.com. “You may be wondering, if there's no dairy, what are these creamy imposters made of? They're nothing but concoctions of oil, sugar and thickeners. To make matters worse, the oils are the partially hydrogenated kind. While a one-tablespoon serving contains less than 0.5 grams of this super unhealthy trans fat, slurping this every morning will quickly pile up.”

White explained that even the fat-free or sugar-free types of non-dairy creamers are bad for you, too, because they are made from the same unhealthy oils and thickeners, along with additional chemicals from artificial sweeteners.

“Go for the real deal,” White suggested. “If you enjoy a bit of sweet creaminess in your coffee, do it the old fashioned way, with measured portions of cream and sugar.”

Alternatively, if you picked out non-dairy creamers as a way to avoid using milk, try using almond or coconut milk instead. These dairy-free alternatives can also add a nice flavor to your coffee, minus the added oils and thickeners.