First off let me start by saying I find it very ironic that I am sitting and writing about coffee consumption while sitting and consuming coffee. I do not think coffee is the devil by any means, I love the stuff, BUT I do believe it’s the cause of many peoples health/dietary problems. For this reason and because I enjoy the taste, I drink my coffee black or with cinnamon. I treat myself to one double-double per week to pay homage to my college days.
Before you start to think I am going to tell you to drink less, think again. You’re an adult, and you can do whatever you want within reason.
However, I will say this…
Let’s examine the start of your working days and perhaps weekends too. Do you start each day with a coffee? If so, what do you put in it? Are you aware of the effects added cream and sugar has on the body? Are you aware that honey is sugar too? How many times per day are you consuming coffee? Do you drink one, two, three, or god forbid four monster sized coffees loaded with cream and sugar? Do you gulp back Vanilla Latte’s like they are going out of style?
To put things into perspective let’s look at our beloved Tim Horton’s coffee with one cream & one sugar. Let’s assume other chains use the same sugar and cream brands for your comparisons.
Small – 4g fat, 7g of sugar, 40 calories
Medium – 6g fat, 11g sugar, 105 calories
Large – 7g fat, 15g sugar, 140 calories
X-Large – 8g fat, 18g sugar, 160 calories
AND just for fun let’s look at my favorite
Large “Double Double” -14g fat, 30g sugar, and 270 calories
A can of coke has 39 grams of sugar and is 140 calories. Shocking, right?
If you struggle with crashes throughout the day, find it hard to manage your weight, and are regularly chasing a sugar high, let’s begin with coffee/tea consumption. Take an honest look and weigh the pros and cons. Do you want to have a healthier system or do you want constantly sweetened mouth pleasure? If you want the latter ask yourself if it’s worth the long-term health effects.
I saw an incredible change in my body and mind when I kicked cream and sugar and went old school. Five pounds came off in a matter of one month without changing anything else in my diet or lifestyle.
The moral of the story is not to demonize enjoying a latte or sweetened beverage here and there but to create awareness about your choices. If you are struggling, consider starting here. Small changes bring great rewards.
Stay tuned for next week when we take a closer look at sugar.
All the best,
