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If you can’t stomach black coffee, you might be tempted to add a creamer to your morning brew. Unfortunately, most creamers–especially ones with added artificial flavors–are not healthy, containing trans fat and added sugars.
Although starting your morning with coffee and dash of flavored creamer might not have a noticeable impact on your health right away, you definitely do not want to start using it on a regular basis.
Keep reading for all the details!
One of the biggest issues with creamer is that they typically do not contain any actual cream.
Nikola Djordjevic, MD, explained to Byrdie: "A vast majority of coffee creamers contain water, sugar, and hydrogenated oil we know as a trans fat."
Trans fat can be a real problem for your diet and overall health. Djordjevic continued, "We consume trans fats when we eat animal products; however, if we take too much of trans fats, we’re putting ourselves at risk of raising LDL (or 'bad' cholesterol)."
Although most creamers contain a modest amount of trans fat per serving (according to the Food Network, one-tablespoon of creamer contains less than 0.5 grams), that can add up if you are adding creamer to your coffee everyday--or if you have more than one cup in the mornings.
That's not all. Flavored creamers also contain a lot of added sugar, usually about 5 grams per serving.
Speaking to Byrdie, Lisa Richards, RD and author of The Candida Diet, explains why this is a problem: "Ideally, it is best to avoid any added sugar, but one to two grams should be your limit."
With that in mind, eliminating flavored creamers from your diet is a good idea. To combat the bitterness of black coffee, try stick to milk or nondairy milks. Adding a dash of cinnamon can also help sweeten your morning coffee.
