More people are skipping breakfast in an effort to lose weight and better regulate bodily functions and systems, yet it's got avid morning coffee drinkers asking, "Does black coffee break a fast?"
Because if we have to skip our morning coffee, which isn't even comprehendible, AND food, there probably won't be too many people who want to be around us.
Nevertheless, can we enjoy a black coffee in the morning without ruining intermittent fasting or fasting for blood work?
Let's answer that straight away.
Will Black Coffee Break My Intermittent Fast?
No. Black coffee (the key word here is BLACK) will not break your intermittent fast.
Here's why:
With intermittent fasting, you are allowing your body to digest and use up the calories you ate from your last meal at capacity and elongating the time frame until your next meal, requiring your body to pull from your fat stores for the energy you are using.
If you are ingesting food or sugary drinks with calories, your body turns to using those primary sources to run off of, breaking your fast and stopping your body from using its fat stores (a.k.a no longer burning fat).
Since black coffee contains virtually zero calories (we're talking less than five calories if even that high), black coffee will not give your body any substance to run off of- ergo, not breaking your fast.
As a matter of fact, black coffee could be beneficial to your intermittent fasting goals because the caffeine also stimulates your metabolism, ultimately increasing your body's natural ability to burn fat faster.
Black coffee also has other benefits that contribute to intermittent fasting benefits like reducing inflammation and boosting your brain power on those extra sluggish days.
Now, does this give you the go-ahead to drink buckets of black coffee while on your fast? Ok, we know we're exaggerating a bit on the buckets, but some mornings we feel like we need buckets of coffee to get moving- so, you catch our drift.
How Much Black Coffee Can I Drink While Fasting?
While fasting, drinking black coffee in moderation is acceptable, with 1 to 2 cups as ideal, but not exceeding 3-4 cups daily.
Although 3 or 4 cups is still acceptable while in your fasting state, you should avoid exceeding that amount as it could be counterintuitive to your fasting goals.
Keep in mind black coffee does not mean only black standard drip coffee. Coffee in any form, on ice, brewed in a french press, a shot of espresso, americano, cold brew, etc., with no additives, are all acceptable versions of the "black coffee" that you can drink while fasting.
What Can I Put In My Coffee To Not Break My Fast?
In the strictest sense, if you do not want to break your fast, you cannot put anything in your coffee.
The only acceptable additive would be water. This would include when one dilutes their cold brew concentrate or the added water found in an americano, ice for iced coffee, and so on.
Milk, creamers, syrups, sweeteners, and the like will all significantly increase the caloric count and break your body from its fasting state.
So, if you like your coffee a certain way, we suggest having it before or after your fasting window. Start with a cup of black coffee to get you going and moving in the morning, and once your fasting time frame is up, enjoy your coffee in your preferred state with all its creamy, sweet goodness.
What if you aren't a fan of black coffee on its own, but you would like to work your way to drinking it black? Do we have any tips for you?
Surely! Here are a few suggestions:
- Start by reducing the amount of sugar and cream each day you drink coffee. If at any point you find it hard to enjoy, keep up with the same amount of reduced sugar and cream for a few days up to a week or two to help your taste buds get acclimated until you have achieved a preference for black coffee.
- Eliminate one choice from your coffee, like cream, and reduce your sweetener daily or week by week until your goal.
- Make sure you buy freshly roasted beans and grind them yourself at home. Black coffee will not taste good to current black coffee lovers if the beans have lost flavor and are old.
- Try lighter roasts as you get acclimated to the taste of black coffee. Medium/darker roasts are more robust and can take some time to get used to if you regularly add cream and sugar to your cuppa.
We've thoroughly discussed black coffee's acceptable uses with intermittent fasting, but what about if you are fasting for a more medical reason- i.e., blood work?
Does Black Coffee Break A Fast For Blood Work?
Black coffee can break a fast for blood work, but it depends on what kind of blood work you are getting. Some tests that require fasting will not be affected by one cup of black coffee.
For example, coffee is a diuretic that can dilute your urine during urine tests and potentially affect other blood work.
If you're in a bind the morning of, we say it's better to be safe than sorry and delay your morning coffee until after your blood test.
Otherwise, when you visit the doctor who is ordering the fasting blood work, ask them if any of the tests would be affected if you had one cup of black coffee before the tests. They'll give you the most accurate answer according to your particular tests.
If you forget to ask the doctor, give your lab a call a few days in advance and ask them to look at your prescription and advise you on if black coffee would be acceptable beforehand.
Does Black Coffee Break Ketosis?
No, black coffee does not break ketosis. So, if you're currently not fasting but on the Keto diet- fellow coffee addicts- drink away!
Ketosis is a state your body is in when it only burns fat rather than glucose. This is because you are focusing on eating fat-filled foods without added sugar or carbs that essentially turn into sugar.
Does black coffee have sugar? No, it does not.
Because of this, black coffee keeps your body in a state of ketosis.
Bulletproof Coffee
Bulletproof coffee is something special on the keto diet. While it doesn't have added sugars, it has a high-fat content. Often containing unsalted butter and a medium-chain triglyceride (i.e., coconut oil), these ingredients and black coffee are mixed and warmed to create a latte-looking cuppa.
Bulletproof coffee will continue to keep your body in a state of ketosis, albeit it isn't "black."
Bulletproof coffee will kick you out of your fasting state, however, due to its high-calorie count.
Takeaways
Black coffee allows you to get the authentic taste of a craftily roasted cuppa and won't interfere with your intermittent fasting goals.
Since most people turn to intermittent fasting to shed a few pounds, black coffee is a substantially wonderful asset to add to your diet since its low-calorie makeup doesn't interfere with your fasting state.
Its natural caffeine levels help boost your body's metabolism, aiding in more fat burn.
Whether you choose to fast for personal choices or you need to fast for medical reasons like blood work, black coffee is generally safe to bet on.
However, always clear it with your doctor or lab beforehand if black coffee is acceptable before your fasting tests, as some tests could become skewed from drinking anything other than water.
All in all, does black coffee break a fast? No, it doesn't, our coffee-loving friends! So, enjoy that morning cuppa with all its delicious flavors. With our fresh morning roasts, we're sure you'll say, "Now That's A Good Cuppa Coffee!" even if it is black. ;)
