Sweet temptation: How sugary coffee could harm your health
Many people reach for coffee in the morning. We drink it with breakfast, brew it at work, and serve it to guests. Some prefer to drink it without any additives to savour only the aroma of the beans. Others like to sweeten and enhance it with additions. Experts warn, however, about the consequences.
6 November 2024 17:47
Coffee is a true antioxidant powerhouse that neutralises harmful free radicals, slowing ageing. Regular coffee consumption may also reduce weight, improve circulatory system function, and ease muscle pain. This is all thanks to the caffeine it contains and numerous bioactive compounds. However, this does not mean that coffee is without flaws, as too much of anything can be harmful. Its health benefits will also be of no use if you choose the wrong additives.
The worst additive to coffee
In the autumn and winter, coffee shops tempt us with sweet drinks. Some choose the classic pumpkin spice latte, while others wait for various winter coffees with gingerbread, caramel, or chocolate syrups. Such coffee is no longer just a drink but a full-fledged dessert. Not everyone realises this.
The amount of sugar in such a drink can be truly astronomical. Sugar, the sweet enemy of our figure and health, often finds its way into our coffee cups. Its excess leads to serious health problems such as obesity, diabetes, or heart disease. If we care about good condition and well-being, it's worth giving up this sweet addiction.
Dietitian Tamar Samuels emphasises that a standard serving of caramel syrup contains about 100 kilocalories and 25 grams of sugar, which is the daily limit for an adult.
The World Health Organisation recommends that sugar should provide us with no more than 10% of our daily energy intake. For an adult, this means about 200 kilocalories from sugar per day, equivalent to roughly 10-12 teaspoons. Meanwhile, sweet coffee drinks can contain several teaspoons of this addition. It's also important to remember that sugar naturally occurs in other products. There's no need to add more to overly-sweetened coffee.
- For example, a typical four-pump serving of caramel syrup contains about 100 calories and 25 grams of sugar ― that’s the recommended daily limit of sugar for adults – emphasises dietitian Tamar Samuels in an interview with "HuffPost".
What to replace syrup in coffee with?
Instead of sweet syrups, it's worth reaching for spices like cinnamon, cardamom, or turmeric. Cinnamon helps regulate blood sugar levels and speeds up metabolism, while turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties and boosts immunity. Thanks to them, coffee will become not only tastier but also healthier.
Just add a pinch to brewed coffee to enjoy the taste without guilt and unnecessary sugar. They will speed up metabolism and enhance the aroma.
