Should you drink coffee while fasting?

'Should I drink coffee when fasting?' is a question many people ask when trying to lose weight.

In general, you can drink black coffee and other low-calorie beverages while fasting, as long as you don't add sugar or milk. In some cases, coffee can even help enhance the benefits of fasting, but it's important to be aware of the potential downsides.

Here are the best ways to drink coffee while fasting according to the health site Verywell Health (USA).

Fasting can still drink coffee but should not add sugar or milk

Photo: AI

What you can add

Black coffee has virtually no calories, so it’s generally considered “safe” for many forms of fasting. If you’re on a more flexible fasting plan, consider adding a teaspoon of heavy cream or coconut oil. These small amounts have little to no effect on calories or blood sugar.

What you should not supplement

With any form of strict fasting, it is absolutely essential to avoid adding calories or sugar to your drinks. So say no to milk, sugar, creamers, or flavored syrups.

How much is enough?

A cup of coffee, about 240 ml, contains nearly 100 mg of caffeine. Caffeine intake should not exceed 400 mg/day (equivalent to 4 cups). Drinking too much coffee can cause temporary high blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, anxiety, digestive disorders or insomnia. These side effects are more likely to occur on an empty stomach during fasting. Therefore, it is best to limit yourself to 1-2 cups of black coffee/day.

Coffee and forms of fasting

In intermittent fasting, you only eat during a certain time frame each day, or you fast periodically (fasting every other day, or a few times a week). With intermittent fasting, black coffee is usually allowed because it doesn't contain significant calories.

Before a routine blood test, you may sometimes be allowed to drink a cup of black coffee (no sugar, no milk), but absolutely do not eat until after the test is done. Before surgery under anesthesia, you will usually be asked to abstain from food and drink completely to avoid complications from anesthesia.

Drinking black coffee while fasting is perfectly acceptable, and even beneficial. However, do not add sugar or milk, and drink in moderation; most importantly, adjust accordingly depending on the purpose or type of fasting.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ban-co-nen-uong-ca-phe-khi-dang-nhin-an-khong-18525090216181986.htm