The short answer is yes, you can drink coffee while intermittent fasting. But, this answer comes with a big caveat: You can drink black coffee while intermittent fasting, but coffee drinks with cream, sugar, or other forms of calories technically break your fast.
Coffee intrinsically contains no calories and, thus, is OK to drink while intermittent fasting. All types of coffee, like americano, espresso, drip, French, decaf, black, iced, hot, etc., without additives such as milk, creamer, or sugar, don't affect intermittent fasting.
Although coffee alone isn't likely to break your fast, added ingredients could. Loading up your cup with high-calorie additives like milk and sugar can disrupt intermittent fasting, limiting the benefits of this dietary pattern.
While a zero-calorie fast maximizes results, an extremely low calorie fast still provides substantial results. “So, can I drink coffee while fasting?” Black coffee, yes. A cup of black coffee has less than five calories and no carbs or protein, so it practically does not affect fasting.
Strictly speaking, any amount of calories will break a fast. If a person follows a strict fasting schedule, they should avoid any food or drinks containing calories. Those following a modified fasting diet can often eat up to 25% of their daily calorie needs while fasting.
No food is allowed during the fasting period, but you can drink water, coffee, tea and other non-caloric beverages. Some forms of intermittent fasting allow small amounts of low-calorie foods during the fasting period. Taking supplements is generally allowed while fasting, as long as there are no calories in them.
What Is Dirty Fasting? Dirty fasting is a different take on time-restricted in which more calories, or certain foods, are allowed during the otherwise clean fasting window. The goal is to disrupt the concept of fasting as little as possible while achieving similar benefits as a clean fast.
The general rule of thumb is that if you stay under 50 calories, then you'll remain in the fasted state.
Whether unsweetened or not, if almond milk is flavoured at all, you can rest assured it has enough carbohydrates to break your fast, even if you just put a SPLASH in your coffee. Classic store-bought almond milk contains lots of additives and sweeteners, so you will want to avoid it entirely while on a fast.
Not only can you drink coffee while intermittent fasting but by consuming no more than 3-4 cups daily, you may boost the benefits of intermittent fasting. Both intermittent fasting and coffee (regular or decaf with no other ingredients added) trigger the process of autophagy, promoting better health and longevity.
More good news: Coffee and tea don't interfere with fasting perks like ketosis and fat burn, and coffee may even help amplify some of fasting's benefits such as improved insulin sensitivity3 .
According to some researchers, fasting for 10–16 hours can cause the body to turn its fat stores into energy, which releases ketones into the bloodstream. This should encourage weight loss.
The metabolic effect on our body from not eating for 15-17 hours is what causes the health benefits such as increasing lifespan, lowering our risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. The side benefit is weight loss.
YOU'RE NOT EATING ENOUGH DURING YOUR WINDOW
You'll be so hungry, you may start eating and not stop. As well, the body stores food to protect itself. Your body will sense the need to stock up on reserves and may store those extra pounds as fat instead of lean muscle.
You're eating too much during your eating window.
“If you end up consuming the same number of calories (or more) during your eating windows as before you started intermittent fasting, then you won't lose weight.”
To sum it up, if you're experiencing weight gain with Intermittent Fasting, it's likely not the fast itself that's causing you to gain weight. Rather it's what you're eating (or not eating, in the case of protein) that can lead to weight gain.
The truth about lemon water and intermittent fasting
Long story short - the answer to the question “Does lemon water break a fast?” is no, lemon water does not break a fast. Lemon water contains almost no calories and zero sugars, it doesn't raise insulin levels, which means it will not break your fast (1).
Twelve-hour fasting is a form of intermittent fasting (IF) also known as 12:12 that many people try for weight loss and health benefits, including improved digestion, increased energy, and improved sleep.
What's a Fast? Simply put, it means you stop eating completely, or almost completely, for a certain stretch of time. A fast usually lasts from 12 to 24 hours, but some types continue for days at a time. In some cases, you may be allowed water, tea, and coffee or even a small amount of food during the “fasting period.”
After the first week of intermittent fasting, you'll probably notice less bloating and a tighter, slimmer look and feel to your midsection. Some people will enjoy some weight loss by week two, but don't be discouraged if your weight scale hasn't budged. Continue for another 4-6 weeks, and you should see changes.
The practice of 16/8 intermittent fasting involves limiting your intake of foods and calorie-containing beverages to a set window of 8 hours per day. You abstain from food for the remaining 16 hours, though you're still allowed to drink water and other no-calorie beverages, like plain coffee or tea.
What is 'fasting' and how does it work? A good rule of thumb for those wanting to fast to improve their metabolic and overall health is to leave at least 12 hours between meals – ideally more – on a regular basis, according to Dr Adam Collins, Principal Teaching Fellow in Nutrition at the University of Surrey.