What To Add to Coffee for Weight Loss: 5 Ingredients
If you’re trying to lose weight, chances are, you’re already doing everything you can. Counting carbs and cutting calories? Check. Hitting the gym and getting better sleep? Double check.
However, anyone who’s been through a weight loss journey will tell you that every little bit helps, which is why you may be wondering how you can transform your everyday hobbies into weight-busting helpers. In this article, we’ll learn how coffee can help with weight loss and how you can give it a little extra boost every now and then.
Can Coffee Help With Weight Loss?
Coffee isn’t just your morning wake-up call — surprisingly, it can also help with weight management. The secret is a compound you probably already know and love: caffeine.
Studies show that caffeine can encourage your body’s energy expenditure and fat-burning rates. Beyond metabolism, coffee can also help curb your appetite, so you’re less likely to reach for those sneaky mid-morning snacks.
All of that said, don’t overdo it on the coffee. Too much caffeine can lead to jitters, and nobody wants to trade snack cravings for stress shakes. Instead, pair your cup of joe with smart choices like balanced meals and exercise.
5 Ingredients To Add to Coffee for Weight Loss
If you already drink a cup of coffee to wake up each morning, why not make your coffee pull double duty? When you add the right ingredients, your coffee can turn into a fantastic (and delicious) weight-loss helper.
1. Cinnamon
Spice up your coffee game with a dash of cinnamon. This fragrant spice not only enhances your coffee’s flavor but also helps regulate blood sugar levels, which can prevent energy crashes and reduce fat. Cinnamon also is packed with antioxidants, which can help support your overall health.
Whether you sprinkle it on top or stir it in, cinnamon adds a subtle sweetness to your brew without the extra calories. If you’re not a fan of cinnamon’s characteristic bite, you may want to use Ceylon cinnamon for its lower coumarin content and smoother flavor.
2. Coconut Oil
For a creamy cuppa that can also support your metabolism, try adding coconut oil or MCT oil to your coffee. Medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) are easy for your body to digest and convert into energy, which can help you burn fat while still having plenty of energy. Coconut oil provides similar benefits but is less concentrated in MCTs, making it a popular choice for those easing into this trend.
To avoid getting an oily film, blend it with your coffee using a milk frother. This will also help your keto coffee develop a silky texture. Lastly, be careful not to use too much oil — just a teaspoon is enough to enjoy the perks without overloading your cup.
3. Collagen Peptides
Collagen peptides not only support skin, hair, and nail health but can also encourage muscle maintenance and a healthy metabolism. Adding collagen to your coffee can help you feel full, which may make it easier to stick to your weight-loss goals.
Since it dissolves effortlessly in hot coffee, you won’t notice a difference in flavor or texture, either. Plus, collagen can also support joint health, which might make it easier to tackle harder workouts.
If adding collagen to your coffee sounds like too much of a hassle, you can always opt for coffee that already has collagen mixed in. For instance, our Mushroom Coffee+ has four grams of grass-fed bovine collagen packed into each serving. You can get the benefits of collagen (plus medicinal mushrooms and nootropics) while still enjoying the smooth, robust flavor of good coffee.
4. Lemon Juice
Switch up your coffee with a splash of lemon juice! This ingredient is rumored to help with digestion and detoxification, which can indirectly support weight loss. While scientific evidence on lemon coffee’s weight-loss benefits is still in the works, the vitamin C in lemons has plenty of evidence for other health benefits.
The bright citrus flavor pairs surprisingly well with black coffee — you’ll know what we mean when you try it. Start with a small amount, as the acidity can be… shall we say… intense. However, if you start slow and give yourself space to try something new, you might end up really enjoying it!
5. Protein Powder
Protein powder can encourage satiety, which can help you stay away from comfort snacks (potato chips, anyone?) throughout the day. Protein powder can also help you build and keep muscle, which is key for maintaining a healthy metabolism.
Choose an unflavored or vanilla protein powder for a creamy, latte-like experience. Bonus points if it’s a clean, high-quality powder without added sugars since these sugars might just break your diet. Collagen protein is a great option (as we discussed above), but if you’d rather give whey or plant protein a try, we say go for it!
What Ingredients Should You Avoid?
Not everything belongs in your coffee cup, especially when you’re trying to shed a few extra pounds. These sneaky ingredients can actually slow down your metabolism:
- Sugar: This adds empty calories that can derail your weight-loss progress.
- Flavored Syrups: High in sugar and artificial ingredients, these are basically liquid desserts.
- High-Fat Creamers: Full of saturated fats, they counteract the metabolism-boosting benefits of coffee.
- Whipped Cream: It’s delicious, yes, but it’s also loaded with unnecessary calories and sugar.
How To Add New Ingredients to Your Coffee
The good news about all of these extra coffee ingredients is that you can play around until you find the combo that works best for you. Start by adding a sprinkle of cinnamon or a teaspoon of MCT oil to your morning brew. Or, if you’re trying to maximize your protein intake, start with collagen or whey protein.
Use these ingredients in moderation, and always taste-test before you take a big swig just to make sure you’ve got the balance right. Finally, while these ingredients might help with weight loss, it’s important to work on other lifestyle changes (like cleaning up your diet and working out) to see the results you’re looking for. Think of your coffee as part of a bigger wellness picture — not the whole canvas.
The Bottom Line
If you’re like most Americans, coffee is a part of your daily routine. Whether you drink it in a hurry on your way out the door or you savor it over breakfast with a friend, you rarely go a morning without it. If you’re trying to lose weight, it only makes sense to shake things up and make your coffee push you toward your goals.
You can add ingredients like cinnamon, coconut oil, collagen, and lemon juice to your coffee to help you shed some extra pounds. Or, you could just opt for our mushroom blends, which already have collagen powder mixed with other nootropics and functional ingredients. It’s a win-win!
Sources:
Blog | What are the benefits of collagen? | Reid Health
Cinnamon Improves Glucose and Lipids of People With Type 2 Diabetes | American Diabetes Association
