Cold brew is obtained by steeping ground beans in cool water for hours. The result is a less bitter and acidic beverage than conventional coffee, with a nuttier and sweeter flavor.
If you are concerned about your weight loss journey and how your love for coffee may jeopardize it, you shouldn’t be worrying too much. You can rest assured that cold brew is nothing more than delicious roasted coffee beans and cold water, with a minuscule number of calories. However, if you add flavorings, milk, or cream, you need to pay attention to hidden calories and sugar.
Why Does Cold Brew Coffee Have Calories?
Regular coffee has zero calories per serving. Similarly, cold brew has no calories, as ice adds no nutrients to the beverage. Studies have found that cold brew usually has a higher caffeine count than hot coffee, as you need a higher amount of coffee ratio to brew your drink. Many believe that coffee can improve our metabolism, which could aid in weight loss.
However, you may end up increasing the caloric content of your coffee by adding flavorings, milk, sugar, or cream. It is important to highlight that the trouble with hidden sugar usually goes beyond excess calories. Sometimes, we drink coffee with whipped cream or a pinch of milk, believing that we are cutting out daily sugar amounts. We underestimate the consequences of sweeteners on our cholesterol, blood pressure, and insulin levels.
For this reason, when adding any other ingredient to your cold-brewed coffee, you should always read the product label to individuate the exact amount of calories, sugar, and fat that you are introducing in your body.
Is Cold Brew Coffee Good for Weight Loss?
Your journey to losing weight or living a healthier lifestyle shouldn’t necessarily make you renounce your coffee break.
Studies have found that caffeine acts as a natural stimulant. In other words, coffee may boost our metabolism, helping our body burn calories faster. However, this doesn’t mean that one espresso a day will keep the dietician away! In fact, you would need enormous doses of caffeine every day to significantly influence your metabolism.
A different study looked at how caffeine can reduce our appetite. Drinking caffeinated beverages, such as tea, coffee, or soda, may reduce levels of ghrelin, the so-called “hunger hormone.”
Nevertheless, the research surrounding caffeine as an aid to weight loss is still conflicting. If you like cold brew coffee, you shouldn’t drink it expecting any positive consequences for your health or weight loss.
Most importantly, you should never forget that, although black coffee has virtually no calories at all, certain caffeinated drinks with added ingredients are loaded with sugar and fat.
How to Avoid Hidden Sugar
To make your favorite drink more diet-friendly, you can start brewing your coffee at home instead of drinking one of the many ready-to-drink cold brews available on the market. This will put you in control of your carbs and calorie intake and your finance, as you will save a lot of money.
Studies have shown that ready-to-go beverages, including cold-brewed coffee, usually have a lot of hidden sugars. Although consumers usually perceive that these drinks are lower in sugars than other beverages, these drinks aren’t always the best choice for your health (and your wallet).
Is Cold Brew Keto Friendly?
Cold-brewed coffee can play an essential part in your keto journey. Caffeine boosts energy levels, and studies have found that it can promote ketosis.
However, if you follow a keto diet, you may be aware of the risks of hidden carbs and sugar, especially when eating out. Any food, including beverage, can put your alimentary regimen and your ketosis into jeopardy.
The best way to have your cold-brewed coffee on keto is to make it yourself. The DIY approach will help you cut the carbs, as well as the cost of buying your coffee every day. Besides, you will be able to add any sugar-free, low-carb flavor or extract, keeping your coffee break absolutely keto-friendly.
Keto-Friendly Ways to Spice Your Cold Brew Up
You will find several options available on the markets if you are looking for a keto-friendly alternative to sugar or stevia. Nevertheless, even these keto-friendly, zero-calorie, and zero-carb sweeteners may stimulate an increasing desire to eat sweets, making your diet more channeling.
To avoid any temptation which may lead to a craving for sweet foods, you can opt for several zero-carb alternatives. Heavy cream is usually the best choice. However, if you want to use a dairy-free beverage, you should pay particular attention to the product labels, as there may be some added sugars and carbs.
There are many ways to turn any of your favorite beverages, including cold-brewed coffee, into a ketosis-promoting drink. For example, you can try blending butter or oil into your coffee: these ingredients will replace milk and cream, give your drink a thicker texture, and provide you with all the fat and energy you need.
One of the best things about cold brew coffee is that you can customize your drink every time, and experiment with different flavors. This is your opportunity to try new coffee beans, dairy-free keto creamer alternatives, and homemade, carb-free syrups and flavorings. The sky (and your daily amount of carbs) is the limit!
Is Cold Brew Coffee Bad for My Diet?
If you attempt to reduce your total calorie intake and lose weight, you can still enjoy your coffee break. Your cold brew has basically no calories, provided that you drink it black – without any added sugar, milk, or flavorings.
Studies have found that caffeine can boost your metabolism, making your body burn calories more efficiently. If you wish to lose weight or cut your daily intake of sugar, you can replace high-calorie beverages, such as hot chocolate or juice, with plain coffee. Nevertheless, it would help if you always kept an eye on your daily caffeine intake.