Tell me it isn't so about Coffee! Even Black Coffee

(Whitney ) #1

Can your Coffee be keeping you fat???

Drinking regular coffee also causes secretion of cortisol, a stress hormone and biochemical marker of stress that triggers belly-fat accumulation. Dr. Henry Kahn of the Emory University School of Medicine states, “There’s something about fat cells in the body—the way they respond to stress hormones. People with high levels of stress hormones have a tendency to store fat in their bellies.”

We’ve all seen the commercials on TV ranting about cortisol and belly fat. Stress activates cortisol, and so does the consumption of coffee and caffeine. I have yet to see a magic pill sold on TV that can control cortisol, since stress and ingestion of cortisol-elevating foods and beverages are the main cause of cortisol elevation in humans. Avoiding the stimulation of cortisol is important in keeping body fat levels low.

The biochemical disruptions caused by drinking coffee and/or caffeinated drinks (such as energy drinks) are related to their glycemic properties. Coffee elicits an acute insulin-insensitive environment in both healthy and obese individuals, and in type 2 diabetics. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center stated that “Daily consumption of coffee, tea, or soft drinks raises blood sugar levels and may even hinder efforts to control the condition [blood-sugar elevation].”

Coffee and caffeine-containing energy drinks mediate negative effects on glucose tolerance and glucose homeostasis in humans via adenosine receptor antagonism, and impairment of insulin-mediated glucose uptake via caffeine-stimulated epinephrine release. Both coffee and caffeine stimulate the release of epinephrine, which exerts actions opposite to that of insulin via beat-adrenergic stimulation. Simply put, elevating blood sugar and/or insulin levels in humans causes weight gain via adipose tissue fat cells.

Here’s the bottom line: Drinking coffee and/or caffeine energy drinks disrupts weight loss and elevates cortisol-driven belly fat. So, avoiding coffee and caffeine-related blood glucose excursions and cortisol elevation is mandatory in keeping fat cells at bay.

In diabetics, coffee and caffeine beverages have adverse effects on glucose metabolism, producing higher average daytime glucose concentrations and exaggerated postprandial glucose responses. Additionally, athletes should never drink coffee or caffeine products before exercise because of the risk of adverse cardiovascular events.

Relaxed eating - the importance of eating in a parasympathetic state
(Karen Parrott) #2

It is very individual. Fast, intermediate, slow caffeine metabolizers. For some of us, it’s protective. Most my family were the long lived, clear thinking family members on one side lived long and drank a lot of coffee.

The non-coffee drinkers on the other side of my family had dementia, poor bone health, aches and pains, arthritis and generally poor health.

I had life long obesity from ages 6-46. Drinking coffee was probably a plus for me- especially when I got food sober. Something I liked when I was removing my addictive foods.

Be sure you are basing coffee or on your own bodies reaction rather than some commercial site’s article.

(Erin Macfarland ) #3

Fasting also raises epinephrine levels and sympathetic nervous system activity.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #4

Since going keto, I’ve read everything about coffee, all the way from how it will keep you in nutritional ketosis to how it will kill you. Since they obviously don’t really know, I’ve decided not to worry about it. :coffee: :bacon:

(Allie) #5

Judge by how you feel not other people’s research. Caffeine is like keto, different for everyone.

#6

I lost close to 180 lbs and have been maintaining for the past 8 years–drinking A LOT of black coffee!

When I began losing, my endo (I’m hypothyroid) told me that I also have a ‘genetically slow metabolism,’ and that caffeine is a way to stimulate the metabolism. He advised that ‘since you’re otherwise healthy,’ drinking coffee would not be an issue.

Did it help? I have no idea, but it’s my morning pleasure, and it certainly didn’t hurt either weight loss or maintenance.

(Karen) #7

Brewing some now, but since I’m sensitive to caffeine it’s decaf. Still a little kick

K

#8

I have moderated my intake somewhat since I quit drinking. In the bad old days, overdoing caffeine was part of the destructive cycle. The afternoon crash led straight to drinking in the evening. Hi carb eating just doubled up on the afternoon crash. Now I do hi-test coffee in the morning between 5 - 7 am, and green tea / oolong tea throughout the work day.

This is interesting: can you take it in moderation? Coffee? yes. Alcohol and carbs? no.

Since I have moderated coffee, I don’t think it contributes to my stress levels, ergo I suspect there is not a significant cortisol spike from drinking coffee in my case.

(You've tried everything else; why not try bacon?) #9

I “forgot” to mention that the other reason I’m determined not to worry about coffee is that if they want me to stop drinking it, they’re going to have to pry my coffee mug from my cold, dead hands. :rofl:

(Bunny) #10

Bullet Proof Coffee drinkers always burn more fat much faster than those who do not!

References:

  1. Caffeine and coffee: their influence on metabolic rate and substrate utilization in normal weight and obese individuals
    https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/7369170/2.

  2. BCAA’S & GLUTAMINE- PREVENT OVERTRAINING & REDUCE CORTISOL, MUSCULAR DEVELOPMENT “… After reading Dr. Gwartney’s “Fat Attack” in MD about the role of dieting and cortisol, you know that consuming a reduced-calorie diet causes an increase in cortisol— so taking BCAAs may reverse this catabolic state …” http://musculardevelopment.com/articles/supplements/12561-bcaa-s-glutamine-prevent-overtraining-reduce-cortisol-muscular-development.html#.WkahsytlCaM

(Mike W.) #11

Is there any way to test for a cortisol spike? As someone with anxiety, that sometimes get elevated by caffeine, I’ve been curious about this as well.

(Bunny) #12

Smartphone Stress Hormone Test App May Be Able To Measure Cortisol Levels: What Are Signs Of Stress?

https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news/2014/06/researchers-develop-new-smartphone-technology-and-app-to-diagnose-and-monitor-adrenal-gland-diseases/

These guys really have them for sale here but out of stock!
https://www.peakbiometricresearch.com/product/smartphone-salivary-cortisol-monitoring-system-for-iphone-66s-initial-kit/

Here they have hardware platforms to develop the technology: https://i-calq.com/technology/

Looking for this technology is like visiting a ghost town :ghost:lol!

(Karl Bork) #13

Cortisol spike is not as bad as insulin. I believe you store fat with both, but not with cortisol alone.

(Bunny) #14

Both are just bad news for weight loss!

(Consensus is Politics) #15

About 7 paragraphs into that link provided at the beginning of the post, I found this…

“I’ve included the above references (just three of 280) in response to the idiotic dieticians who persist in arguing that coffee and caffeine are not fattening. Readers of MUSCLE INSIDER are exempt from this group of vapid tools, as bodybuilders, powerlifters, and other athletes are among the most knowledgeable of humans regarding their craft.”

In my opinion that makes the entirety of the article moot.

And the last sentence should read, “…are among the most bull headed and ignorant of humans regarding just about anything.” Yes, I realized I painted with a very broad brush. But in my 54 yrs on this planet, I have known MANY of them, and they were no different than anyone else. Hence the very broad brush.

(Justin Jordan) #16

Given that thousands of bodybuilders have gotten stage lean while taking in lots of caffeine, I wouldn’t (and don’t) worry about it.

(Lynne Hurley Perry) #17

whew!

(Michele) #18

Hi I’m new here, been reading a bunch of the posts and loving what I’m reading. I’m way down the bottom of the globe in New Zealand. Joined a local reddit group and the feralness of the admin led me to quit after a few days!

Anyway here’s my thought/wondering - outside of all our individual ways in which we respond to coffee/caffeine, how does coffee effect us when we are in ketosis vs being on a standard western diet?

#19

NOT Drinking regular coffee also causes secretion of cortisol, a stress hormone and biochemical marker of stress that triggers belly-fat accumulation.

Fixed that for ya!

(Meeping up the Science!) #20

I’ve lost over 461 pounds (get weighed in two weeks again) and did so drinking, on average, far too much coffee. Like, 120 ounces a day or so. I still drink some (16-24 ounces more moderately).

You have to remember most people drink coffee with sugar or added sweetness. What you must do is to view the study linked and see what the content of the coffee was besides coffee.

It also depends on your physiology. If you are prone to anxiety, I tend to suggest avoiding stimulants as these can exacerbate the anxiety, which can cause overconsumption. This is what we call compensatory behavior.

As for cortisol versus insulin, it’s arguable which is worse. Cortisol isn’t necessarily bad. What’s bad is a sustained and elevated level of cortisol over time. Anxiety, abuse, and trauma can cause this, as can simple life stress. If you’re worried about cortisol, the best thing you can do is make non-food lifestyle changes to reduce stress and increase self-care, actually. Consumption has a trivial effect on it compared to environment.