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Besides a decades-long marketing campaign from one of the worlds largest grocery conglomerates , COFFEE-MATEs stout sweet flavor covers up the taste of badly or over-brewed coffee of which there is plenty in this country.
Non-dairy creamer is good for the lactose-intolerant who cant live without whitening their coffee. And as many Americans palates seem to be stuck in childhood, a preference for sweet drinks like soda grips many adults long after they should have their fingers out of the sugar bowl.
COFFEE-MATE can last two years with no refrigeration, and stays fresh for two weeks once opened working well in offices where items rarely get put back into the refrigerator. However these minor conveniences dont make up for the fact that you are putting vegetable oil into your coffee. Ready for another cup?
COFFEE-MATE actually has more calories than half-and-half, with the original powdered version clocking in at 30 calories per tablespoon vs. real half-and-half at 20 calories per tablespoon!
If you have been a COFFEE-MATE consumer but want to change your ways, there are far better options for your coffee:
1. Learn to love it black. Give up the cream and sugar entirely youll save heaps of calories per year, and after a few weeks I guarantee that you will not miss the added sweet. Save those calories for chocolate cake!
2. Try cream – REAL cream or half & half. Just a dab will brighten your coffee and cut the sharp flavor.
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Yerba Mate Vs Coffee: Effects
Things get tricky here. When you first hear about yerba mate, one of the first things you hear is the stimulating effects are nothing like that of coffee. Namely, the jitters and crash.
But this is highly dependent between individuals. Some dont get the jitters and crash coffee is known for, while some do. And some might get hyper from drinking yerba mate although many people say they dont.
Its different for everyone.
Coffee and yerba mate produce similar effects
Personally, with yerba mate, I get the same energy from a cup of coffee. The only notable difference is my focus. I can sit down and concentrate better when I sip from my gourd. But contrary to popular opinion, I get jitters from yerba mate from time to time like I do with coffee.
And the caffeine crash?
Ive never experienced it before. Hard to believe because its so common. But Ive never felt tired or hungover after drinking yerba mate or coffee. So I cant really say much about which induces a crash. But if you take proper precautions in preventing one, neither should be a problem.
A crash isnt exclusive to one drink. Its dependent on your bodys overall state beforehand.
Lastly, many are afraid yerba mate causes cancer. But the final conclusion isnt clear, as the study conducted was skewed by already sick patients as well as smokers and drinkers. Whats clear is drinking any beverage at extremely hot temperatures can increase oesophageal and oral cancer.
Three Coffee Creamers To Avoid
There are many creamers available on the market that are very unhealthy. But the main things you want to avoid are thickeners like carrageenan, artificial ingredients and flavors, preservatives , partially hydrogenated oils, and sugar and artificial sweeteners.
And the prize for some of the worst coffee creamers goes to
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The Natural Health Benefits Of Coffee
That cup of morning coffee can certainly get you going right after you wake up or get to work. There are very good reasons, though, to make a fresh pot or stop at a coffee shop throughout the day.
Research has shown that its safe for healthy adults to consume as much as 400mg of caffeine per day thats about the amount contained in four cups of coffee what experts call a moderate amount. Studies have also concluded that any negative effects associated with coffee drinking dont begin to appear until consumption reaches six cups or more per day.
Thats how much you can drink. Should you?
Thats up to you, but here are just some of the health benefits that coffee can deliver:
And those are just the big four. Theres evidence that moderate coffee consumption can help prevent the development of liver disease, Parkinsons disease, and even some forms of cancer. There are also nutrients in coffee a single cup can provide 10% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin B2, plus lesser amounts of vitamin B5 and minerals like potassium and magnesium.
That leads us to ask a very important question.
What About Milk Or Cream
We know that the calcium in milk is good for us. It seems like our mothers, not to mention our health education teachers, told us that every single day. Cream? It contains more calories and fat, but its one of the gold standards in a keto diet so it must be good for us as well. Right?
Yes and no.
When you add milk or cream to your coffee, youre adding calories, fat and carbs.
- Two tablespoons of whole milk: 18 calories, 1.4 grams of carbs, 2 grams of fat.
- Two ounces of nonfat milk: 22 calories, 2 grams of carbs, 0.1 grams of fat.
- Two ounces of heavy cream: 120 calories, 0.8 grams of carbs, 12 grams of fat.
And thats without the sugar you might add as well.
Sure, those numbers arent huge, but multiply them by four or five cups of coffee a day and theyre eye-opening.
Its true that milk and cream can be good for you. They contain nutrients and protein that promote muscle growth and support bone strength, and they can provide other health benefits as well. But you can get those benefits in healthier ways, too, without adding lots of carbohydrates, calories and fat to your diet.
Thats important, particularly if youre watching your weight.
But what about the fact that milk or cream can cool down your coffee and soften its acidity or simply the fact that theyre delicious when added to a cup of coffee?
Thats where coffee creamers come in.
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Dont Fall For Ridiculous Logic
Also, dont be fooled by all the trolls being paid by big man-made producing chemical companies to confuse you with putting comments that use the chemical name for water, coffee, etc. Suddenly everything is a chemical therefore all chemicals are good. Sorry, this is so far from the truth that its laughable. Hello, you have to list the man-made chemical on the label , and yet, coffee and water can be labeled just that, coffee and water on a food label. Not a ridiculous chemical name. Why? Because they are NOT man-made chemicals, but foods found in nature that contain natural chemicals and therefore do not need to be labeled as such. Do not fall for the illogical debate.
How To Find The Healthiest Coffee Creamer
It all comes down to the ingredients used. So often, the products on the market have way too many ingredients that just don’t belong in a healthy beverage, says Dr. Felicia Stoler, DCN, a registered dietitian, nutritionist and exercise physiologist. Even the non-dairy options have so many added chemicals to give products the mouthfeel or texture of regular cream or half-and-half.
Sugar-free or low-sugar creamers are also often made with artificial sweeteners, which Stoler cant really get behind either: They dont contribute in a favorable manner towards helping people reduce their sugar or sweet cravings, and instead only continue to satisfy that urge. Thats why Stoler is partial to using regular milk or cream to lighten her coffee.
It all comes down to your needs and lifestyle: If drinks are the last place you want to rack up calories, it may be worth it to you to sip artificial sweeteners over sugar. Just be sure to read the label carefully before buying. And dont assume that non-dairy creamers are healthy by default. Many of those products are ultra-processed, says Stoler. They don’t get an automatic health halo when laden with so many added ingredients to mimic the real thing.
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Dunkin Donuts: Extra Extra
The name says it all Extra Extra. This creamer contains extra of all the bad stuff including sugar, preservatives, fat, and carrageenan.
Nutrition facts : 40 calories, 1.5g fat, 6 g carbs , 0g protein.
Ingredients: Milk, sugar, cream, contains 2% or less of: natural flavors, dipotassium phosphate, potassium citrate, carrageenan.
The Healthiest And Unhealthiest Creamers For Your Coffee
If you dont like to drink your coffee black, you might add a splash of milk, half-and-half or heavy cream and a spoonful of sugar or sweetener. With creamer, you kill two birds with one stone because its creamy and, most of the time, its sweetened, so you dont need to add extra sugar. Some basic flavors include hazelnut, French vanilla and caramel, but you can find exotic varieties like Funfetti and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, too.
Because of convenience and customizability, creamer is a popular addition to Americas cup of joe. However, its not always especially healthy. If you use store-bought creamer regularly, its smart to know which ones are best and worst for your health. Some are higher in fat, calories and sugar. Some are made with just a few ingredients while others sound more like chemistry experiments. Theyve been listed here in order from generally unhealthy to healthy.
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Whats In Coffee Creamer
Here are the ingredients in what was my favorite brand :
- Water
- Partially Hydrogenated Soybean and/or Cottonseed Oil
- Sodium Caseinate
- Phosphate
- Natural and Artificial Flavors
- Carrageenan
Overall, not a very pretty picture. First off, there are waaaaay too many ingredients here for a very simple mixture . Second, there is partially hydrogenated oil which is very bad for you, along with a slew of very processed ingredients.
Now, here are the ingredients for my healthy homemade creamer recipe:
- Almond milk
- Raisins
- Arrowroot starch
- Pure vanilla extract
All whole ingredients, all waaaaay better for you. All just as tasty as the fake stuff youve been used to.
Which Means You Need To Take Your Own Health Into Your Own Hands
The FDA is NOT doing it for you.
I have found that many people think that Coffee creamer cant be that bad or tell themselves, Im not using that much as their philosophy for why these keep getting added to their morning coffee. .
Problematic Ingredient 1: Carrageenan
According to the Cornucopia Institute, an organization which has been a major driver of removing carrageenan from creamers, milk, and milk-like products, Studies from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s link food-grade carrageenan to higher rates of digestive disease, including colon cancer. Carrageenan has a unique chemical structure that triggers an innate immune response in the body, which recognizes it as a dangerous invader. This immune response leads to inflammation. For individuals who consume carrageenan on a regular or daily basis, the inflammation will be prolonged and constant, which is a serious health concern since prolonged inflammation is a precursor to more serious disease.
Problematic Ingredient 2: Artificial and Natural Flavors
Remember how I said most of my patients think the FDA is testing and regulating the ingredients in your food? It is and it isnt.
But companies have two years to remove the man-made chemicals, so what youre seeing on the shelves very likely still has these chemicals hidden in it.
And this is only 7 man-made chemicals that have finally undergone testing. There are hundreds of others that could eventually be proven to have the same effect that are hiding under this label.
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Reason : Moderate Number Of Carbs
Since this coffee creamer is sugar-free, one might think it must have a low carb content. This is true, but not if you consider the optimal carb to fat ratio of a keto diet.
One serving of this creamer is 30 calories. It consists of 2.5g saturated fat and 2g carbs.
If youre trying to stay at under 30g of carbs per day to maintain ketosis, then 2g first thing in the morning is already 6.7% of your daily total.
Furthermore, the carb-to-fat ratio in this creamer is 1:1.25. If you aim for about 10% daily carb intake vs. 70% fat intake, your daily carb-to-fat ratio comes out to about 1:7.
What Happens If Coffee Mate The Original Liquid Coffee Creamer Is Out Of Stock And I Need To Give Specific Instructions
- Find Best Match: By default, your shopper will use their best judgement to pick a replacement for your item.
- Pick Specific Replacement: You can pick a specific alternative for the shopper to purchase if your first choice is out-of-stock.
- Don’t Replace: For items you’d rather not replace, choose “Don’t replace” to get a refund if the item is out of stock.
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We Want To Give You Your Power Back To Make Your Own Choices
With that said, I believe most women do not know what they are choosing when regularly consuming conventional coffee creamers. So, lets break down some of the top reasons why you might want to reconsider adding one of the most popular creamers, Coffee Mate, to your coffee. I actually believe it should be called Cancer Mate. Yes, CANCER MATE.
A bold claim, so Ill share the science to back it up.
Here is the short answer if you dont have a lot of time:
Traditional creamer isnt actually cream at all, but a lab-created, non-dairy liquid that contains refined sugar, partially hydrogenated oils, carrageenan, and man-made chemical preservatives that have been associated with cancer, heart disease, sexual dysfunction, digestive issues, weakened immune system, atherosclerosis, diabetes, obesity, and other issues.
On top of that, these creamers are empty of any minerals, vitamins or antioxidants, adding zero value to your dietary intake besides calories.
Simply put, you can skip them, make your own using whole food ingredients, or choose versions with less problematic ingredients that dont cause harm to your health by flipping the label and deciding what youll bring into your life.
Now lets break down the longer answer and point out some problem areas:
Ingredients
Water, Sugar, Vegetable Oil , and Less than 2% of Micellar Casein **, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Mono- and Diglycerides, Dipotassium Phosphate, Salt, Cellulose Gel, Cellulose Gum, Carrageenan.
How To Store Coffee
Proper Coffee-Mate storage depends on the productstore liquid dairy products in the refrigerator. Non-dairy products and powdered creamers can usually be stored in the pantry, cupboard, or dry, cool place. Once a liquid creamer is open, please keep it in the fridge in an airtight container. Powdered Coffee-Mate is safe to store in the cupboard after its been opened, as long as you keep it dry and free of moisture. When in doubt, check the label for specific recommendations.
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The 7 Best Coffee Creamers For Weight Loss
Now that weve reviewed what you should be avoiding in coffee creamers, were going to pour out our picks for the seven best coffee creamers for weight loss.
Since health and weight management go hand in hand, weve based this list off of a mix of lower-calorie creamers and the ones that are more natural.
Other Healthy Coffee Creamer Suggestions
One of the companies known for producing healthy dairy-free creamers is Califia Farms. Their products are plant-based, low-sugar and available in a wide range of flavors from vanilla and hazelnut, to pecan caramel and mushroom oat. They really are healthy and they all taste good.
If calorie-free rules your dietary choices youre probably familiar with Walden Farms, because the brand offers a huge variety of zero-calorie salad dressings, sauces and syrups. They also sell six flavors of no-calorie coffee creamers which contain no fat, sugar, carbs or gluten, although they do contain undefined cream flavoring, salt and food coloring. That doesnt necessarily make them unhealthy, but we wish they provided more specific information on the ingredients. These creamers dont taste quite as good as the ones weve already mentioned, but zero-calorie, zero carb is obviously tempting.
And in the best of the worst category, Coffee-Mate has a line of popular creamers called Natural Bliss. Theyre made with either milk and cream, or with plant milks most have added sugar and they all have much higher calorie, fat and carb content. But they are all-natural, which is a step up from most major commercially-sold coffee creamers.
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How Long Can You Leave Coffee
Coffee Mates dairy creamers can usually sit out for up to two hours before they start to develop harmful bacteria. Non-dairy Coffee-Mate creamers last much longer in some cases, you can leave an unopened bottle out for up to a month without compromising safety. If youre using one of the brands powder coffee creamer options, theres no need to worry about refrigeration these products are designed to be shelf-stable at room temperature.
Nutrition Q& a: Which Is Healthier Coffee
Q: Which is a better choice to use in my coffee? Coffee-mate® Fat Free Vanilla or Coffee-mate® Sugar Free Vanilla?A: We wouldnt call either a good choice. Per tablespoon, the fat-free version of Coffee-mate® contains 25 calories, 1 gram of fat, and 0 grams of saturated fat. While the sugar-free version has 15 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, and the artificial sweeteners sucralose and acesulfame potassium.
When choosing these creamers over milk and natural sweetener, youre opting to use a much more processed, artificial product in your coffee. But the number one downside to the fat-free and sugar-free Coffee-mate® products is the second ingredient that they both share partially hydrogenated oils which is code for trans fats. At first glance, youd think that the product doesnt contain any trans fats . But, heres the trick: If the amount of trans fats in a product is less than 0.5 grams per serving, its not required to be listed on the nutrition facts label.
Better option: In exploring the Coffee-mate® product offerings, we discovered that they now have a newer product line, called Natural Bliss, that contains nothing artificial just nonfat milk, cream, sugar, and carrageenan .
Best option: A quarter-cup 1% milk plus 1 teaspoon sugar. Youre getting calcium from the milk, without the fat or saturated fat you get with cream, and you get a little sweetness without too many calories
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