caffine

Question
I drink about 2-4 cups of coffee a day. I only use non-fat milk and a no calorie sweenener (2 packs per cup). Will all of this coffee cause me to gain weight or stop me from losing the weight I want to lose? Would decaf be better?
Thanks for the help.

Answer
Hello Lynne,
Great question. If you really like coffee, I wouldn't tell you to avoid it. There are downsides, however, to caffeine addiction. Caffeine tends to result in the leaching of calcium from bone which over time can lead to decreased bone density. The reliance upon caffeine may make cognition difficult when caffeine is not available. It does tend to alter the production of the adrenal glands. None of these issues, in and of themselves, are all that significant, so for the most part caffeine (coffee) is safe. Another interesting tidbit . . . caffeine can be a fat loss aid . . . in people who have not developed a caffeine tolerance. That means if you begin to avoid caffeinated coffee, after awhile you may be able to use it for 3-4 week periods as a fat loss aid.

As far as your statement about losing weight. Here are a few articles that should be of help to you.

http://philkaplan.com/thefitnesstruth/metabolism.htm
http://philkaplan.com/thefitnesstruth/caloric_deprivation.htm
http://philkaplan.com/thefitnesstruth/sugar.htm
http://philkaplan.com/thefitnesstruth/supportive_eating.htm
http://philkaplan.com/thefitnesstruth/women&weights.htm
If you have further questions just email me [email protected]

To Your Health!
Mark Shields  

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