Coffee Debate!

lilmissy2

It depends on the reason for needing to avoid it. I agree that the dehydration thing is a myth. Also, as the OP pointed out, just because you drink coffee doesn't mean you also don't drink a load of water.

Caffeine has been shown to very slightly increase metabolism (but not enough to warrant starting to drink it if you dont already) and suppress appetite. I try not to drink much coffee since I saw the research on sleep habits and have to admit, I am much less tired than I used to be.

Basically, it's really absolute rubbish that if you drink coffee before bed it will keep you up BUT no matter what time during the day you have caffeine, it will affect your sleep. ie you won't be able to reach the same depths of sleep as people who don't have caffeine so you wake up feeling tired (and then have some coffee... vicious cycle haha). This will of course have more of an effect with the more caffeine you have.

Of course, everyone has their priorities and I'm not saying you shouldn't have it. I love my hot milky drinks (especially in icky British weather)... I try to have mostly tea, since it has about half the caffeine of instant coffee.

EmmyBee

OK so I know I'm late in replying to this thread, but thought I'd chime in too since I'm a coffee lover as well. I worked as a barista in a small town coffee shop that served only organic fair-trade coffee for 4 years. That probably makes me a "coffee snob" as some might say :laugh:

I am no expert, but I think drinking coffee will not inhibit your weight loss. It's all the junk people put in their coffee that makes it unhealthy. Stay away from any sugary syrups, they destroy the flavor anyway! I've been drinking a shot or two of Italian espresso in the morning with about 1/4 tsp sugar for a teeny tiny bit of sweetness, and I still get that great coffee taste I love! You can do the same with brewed American coffee and sparingly add your milk/sweeteners and enjoy that delicious morning cup :drinker: