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.
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.
Does Coffee Mate Creamer Go Bad
Coffee creamer is a mixture of sugar, milk, and flavoring agents that is added to coffee to give it a sweet taste. It is usually used to make cappuccino drinks. Coffee creamer contains about 4 grams of sugar per cup. This is not enough to cause any health problems. However, if you drink a lot of coffee creamers, it could lead to weight gain.
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How To Tell If Coffee Creamer Has Gone Bad
Coffee creamer is a mixture of milk powder and sugar that is used to thicken coffee. It is usually sold in glass jars. Coffee creamer is not very stable and tends to go rancid quickly. Once the creamer goes rancid, it becomes bitter and tastes awful. To test if the creamer is still good, try adding a teaspoon of creamer to a cup of hot coffee. If it does not taste sweet, then the creamer has gone bad.
Coffee Mate: Sweet Flavors
Like International Delight, Coffee Mate gets creative with its creamers. The brand is keen on adding seasonal flavors to its arsenal of sweet creamers, but some core products include crème brulée, hazelnut, caramel macchiato and Italian sweet cream. They all have similar nutritional profiles, racking up 35 calories, 1.5 grams of fat and 5 grams of sugar per tablespoon.
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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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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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How Much Does Instacart Delivery Or Pickup Cost
- Delivery fees start at $3.99 for same-day orders over $35. Fees vary for one-hour deliveries, club store deliveries, and deliveries under $35.
- Service fees vary and are subject to change based on factors like location and the number and types of items in your cart. Orders containing alcohol have a separate service fee.
- Tipping is optional but encouraged for delivery orders. It’s a great way to show your shopper appreciation and recognition for excellent service. 100% of your tip goes directly to the shopper who delivers your order.
- There may be a “pickup fee” on your pick up order that is typically $1.99 for non-Express members. Express membership waives this like it would a delivery fee.
- Pick up orders have no service fees, regardless of non-Express or Express membership.
Reasons Why Nestle Coffee Mate Sugar
If you are on the keto diet or know someone who is, you might have wondered at some point whether or not Coffee Mate Creamer by Nestle works well with this diet or not.
For all of you coffee lovers out there, weve written this article to give you a definite answer to this question, along with some additional helpful information to consider.
So, is Coffee Mate Creamer by Nestle good or bad for the keto diet?
Short answer: It is bad for the keto diet.
Long answer: While adding a bit of Nestle sugar-free Coffee Mate Creamer to your coffee wont necessarily prevent you from reaching ketosis, there are coffee creamers out there that are much more keto-friendly.
Below, we will go over 3 reasons why this coffee creamer isnt optimal for those on a keto diet and offer some preferred alternative options.
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Must Diabetics Use A Sugar Free Coffee Creamer
Individuals with diabetes dont have to use a sugar-free coffee creamer, says Alison Massey, MS, RD, LDN, registered dietitian and diabetes educator at the Center for Endocrinology, Mercy Medical Center of Baltimore, whom I interviewed for this article. They should be aware, however, that creamers do have varying amounts of added sugar, especially if they are flavored, and they should read the labels, continues Massey. Plain half & half contain very little carbohydrates and is primarily fat, which is another option for individuals. I always encourage my clients to monitor the portions of both added fat and sugar to coffee beverages. Stevia As an Alternative to Coffee Creamers for Diabetics As a diabetic, you may want to consider adding Stevia to your coffee rather than a coffee creamer. Coffee creamers arent exactly an all-natural health food. Read the ingredients. Coffee creamers are highly processed products. The sweetener Stevia is derived from the leaves of the Stevia plant, and the only ingredient is this herb. It comes in small packets of powder, or, in liquid form. Try it in your coffee and see if it does the trick for you.Continue reading > >
How Do I Avoid Curdling Together
Curdling happens when milk proteins separate from each other. This occurs because the milk proteins are not properly mixed. It is caused by improper mixing of ingredients such as cream, skimmed milk powder, sugar, salt, butter, and eggs. Curdling is usually prevented by thoroughly mixing the ingredients before adding them to the milk. To prevent curdling, mix the ingredients well before heating the mixture.
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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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Elmhurst Unsweetened Oat Creamer
Nutrition per serving : 10 calories, 0.5 grams fat , 0 milligrams sodium, 1 gram carbohydrates , 0 grams protein
What we love most about this creamer is its simple ingredient list. The unsweetened flavor has just water, whole-grain oats, hemp seeds, and less than two percent of added minerals and natural flavors. This product does not contain any added gums, to which some people can be sensitive.
Better yet, the creamer is shelf-stable until opened, meaning you can stock up on a few without having to crowd the fridge. If you like flavored creamer, they have Vanilla, Chai and Hazelnut, which are lightly sweetened with just one gram of sugar per tablespoon.
Buy it:Elmhurst Price: $11.98 per 2-pack
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Whats In This: Coffee
All eight ingredients in this crap-the-milk-smells-off emergency substitute, explained
Were often told that you should never eat anything if you dont recognize everything on the ingredients list. But since most of us have no idea what xanthan gum or potassium benzoate areor more importantly, what theyre doing to our bodieswere decoding the ingredients in the many things Americans put in themselves with the help of an expert.
This edition: Coffee-Mate Original Coffee Creamer, which is made from eight separate ingredients that weve broken down in the exact order they appear on their website.
The Ingredients
1) Water: You drink this one.
2) Coconut Oil: This provides a rich and creamy flavor. While you may have heard that coconut oil is good for the heart, a 2016 review of the substance argues that more research is needed to substantiate this claim:
Due to existing knowledge regarding saturated fatty acids and heart disease, evidence presented here suggesting that coconut oil raises plasma lipids and a lack of large, well-controlled human studies published in peer-reviewed journals demonstrating clear health benefits of coconut oil, frequent use of coconut oil should not be advised.
The same report even recommends thinking twice before consuming lots of products that sport coconut oil high up on the ingredients list :
All in all, more studies are needed to provide further insight into what coconut oil will do to you.
The Takeaway
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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Food Facts Friday: Coffee Creamers
Diet ManagementTipsTagsalmond milkcoffeecreamermilksoy milk
Is there anything better than a nice cup of coffee in the morning to start your day? There are so many ways to flavor your wake-up cup of coffee. If you are following a kidney diet, you may be wondering if you can keep drinking coffee. Yes, you can still drink it, but be aware of what you add to it and how much you drink. Not all coffee creamers are equal.
An 8-ounce cup of black coffee contains 116 mgpotassium.1 This is considered low in potassium, but if you drinkseveral cups of coffee a day it can add up.
Can You Put Coffee Creamer In Tea
Coffee creamer is a common ingredient used in many different types of beverages. It is typically added to hot drinks such as tea, coffee, and cocoa to give the drink a creamy texture. Coffee creamer is usually sold in a plastic bottle with a metal cap. It contains sugar, milk powder, and other ingredients that help to thicken the beverage.
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Does Coffee Mate Go Bad If Not Refrigerated
Yes, but not if you want to avoid getting sick. Coffee creamer is usually sold in glass jars with lids. It is important to check the expiration date on the jar. Once the expiration date passes, the product loses its effectiveness and becomes unsafe to consume. In addition, the flavor changes after the expiration date. This is why it is recommended to buy new creamer instead of using old creamer.
Reason : Contains Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil
When going keto, the goal is high-fat content and low carbs. Unfortunately, not all fats have the same positive effects on your body.
While oils are a high-fat staple in many keto diets, there is a big difference between oils made from natural, healthy fat sources versus oils made from genetically modified seeds that are heavily processed.
The hydrogenated vegetable oil in this coffee creamer comes from Coconut and/or Palm Kernel and/or Soybean. These oils contain artificial trans fat which should always be avoided for those on keto, as artificial trans fat offers none of the keto health benefits that natural fats do.
Some alternative options to hydrogenated vegetable oils include oils from natural fat-sources, such as:
- Grass-fed butter
- Walnut oil
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Reason : Contains Artificial Sweeteners
Even though the artificial sweeteners in this coffee creamer are sugar-free and should not have an adverse effect on your ability to maintain ketosis, there are better options out there.
The artificial sweeteners in this coffee creamer are sucralose and acesulfame potassium. The thing with these sweeteners is that while they are proven to not affect blood glucose and insulin, they still have carb content and more importantly can increase your cravings for sweet-tasting foods, which generally must be avoided on keto.
Some preferred alternative sweeteners to these are stevia and erythritol, which contain 0 calories and 0 carbs and taste a bit different from actual sugar, so cravings are reduced.
Know What Youre Getting
Creamer doesnt always mean cream . Your options:
Dairy. Most mix milk, cream, sugar, and natural flavors. Fat-free and lowfat half and half are the only dairy creamers that meet our nutrition criteria . Theyre largely milk with little or no sugar, plus thickeners and emulsifiers. Want to keep it simple? Dairy milks are a great choice. Even a tablespoon of whole milk has less saturated fat and sugar than most creamers.
Plant milk. Most dairy-frees replace the cows milk with almond, coconut, or soy milk. Many are winners in our book .
Sugar & oil. Most International Delight and Coffee-mate creamers have no milk or cream. They blend water, sugar, and oil with thickeners, emulsifiers, and natural and artificial flavors. International Delights palm oil supplies ½ gram of saturated fat per tablespoon. Coffee-mates powdered creamers reach roughly 1½ to 2½ grams of sat fat. Blame their hydrogenated oils.
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