The go-to morning brew: A Nutritional Guide to Coffee ??

Some of us can't start our days without it… Here is a glimpse into our mornings at Lumen , along with surprising facts from our nutritionist Arielle Brea Lofton, MS, RDN about our beloved coffee.

Coffee is made from roasted coffee beans and is known for its stimulating effect on humans, mainly due to its caffeine content. In fact, it’s so popular it holds the highest sales in the world market for hot drinks!

Let’s take a deeper look into how it affects our body:

Positive effect on human metabolism

The caffeine in coffee has been researched and proven to have a positive effect on human metabolism in quite a few ways. One of which is its ability to increase thermogenesis, which is the production of heat by the body. This process can further contribute to the amount of calories that your body burns and increase an individual’s metabolic rate.

Not all coffees are created equal

Coffee can be enjoyed in so many different ways, and the things that we add to it can really change its nutritional quality in more ways than one. For example, did you know that plain black coffee is practically calorie-free, while a Frappuccino can contain more than 350 calories, 16g of fat, and over 50 grams of sugar (which is about 4 Tablespoons of pure sugar)?

This means that the way you enjoy coffee can impact the effect it has on your metabolism and overall health. So, although caffeine from coffee is a great boost to have, being mindful of what you add to your coffee can help both your brain & your body get the most out of this morning drink!

Know your limits - different people have different tolerances

The metabolic effects of coffee can vary from person to person, as some of us may be more sensitive to caffeine and experience greater metabolic benefits, while others may not respond as strongly. This means that drinking about two cups per day is a good cut-off to help reduce your body’s tolerance of caffeine overall!

Caffeine can enhance the breakdown of stored fat

It does this by increasing the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue into the bloodstream, making them available for energy production. Caffeine can result in more instances of your body using stored fat as a fuel source, which is called fat oxidation. For all of our Lumeners out there, this may be a Pro Tip!???

So, in summary, enjoying a delicious cup of morning coffee can indeed present positive effects on your metabolism and health, however, when we add sugar and high-fat creamers, it can do the opposite. It also may be helpful to keep in mind that the impact of coffee on metabolism is just one piece of the puzzle when it comes to overall nutrition, metabolic health, and weight management.

And just in case you want to switch it up from time to time, beverages that can provide similar benefits to caffeine, such as green tea, herbal teas, and matcha, can also help you start your day in a mindful and wholesome way!

Happy International Coffee Day & Enjoy ??