Photography by Unsplash
Can you slash kilojoules while you caffeinate?
The argument for glugging down espressos to lose weight is tempting. After all, the dark brew’s associated with a healthy heart and longer life – why not a slimmer waist, too? But will it help you lose weight?
The Argument For Caffeine
The theory behind a dose of caffeine and weight loss is twofold. First, it’s thought to help with appetite suppression, but only for a short period of time. Second, caffeine may stimulate thermogenesis, or your body’s ability to produce heat, which in turn torches fat. But research has shown that you’d have to drink up tons of java in order for thermogenesis to have an effect.
READ MORE: 4 Things You Should NEVER Order At A Coffee Shop
The Caveat
The most obvious argument against drinking a cup of the good stuff for weight loss is the form in which you drink it. Energy drinks are spiked with sugar and sometimes, other dangerous chemicals, while your fave coffee order is part espresso, but mostly kilojoule-dense milk and sugar. Your move? Keep your coffee order to one creamy one a day, and make the rest as milk-and-sugar-free as possible. And, watch your intake: drinking too much coffee could make you agitated, nervous and unable to sleep. But, if you’re still keen on getting a ‘lil energy kick and want to lose weight, try the chemical in your lotion: one study found a cream enriched with 7% caffeine, applied twice daily, showed significant reduction in the circumference of the participants’ thighs.
Looking for more on coffee? Here’s the lowdown on the link between caffeine and cellulite, the pros and cons of caffeine plus what it’s like to actually ditch the drink all together.
