It's something that majority of us first think about when we wake up, have a shower get ready and make a coffee or grab one on the way to work, its almost like it is a part of our routine whether we have had a bad nights sleep or not. 

Are we consuming our morning coffee because we need it? or because we want it? or just simply because it's "routine" to do so?
Do you have a coffee daily, two coffees or upwards of three? and WHY?

The coffee itself isn't bad depending on how much you consume but it is how you have your coffee, with milk, cream, syrups, sugar, the list goes on. 

So what is COFFEE?

Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans which come from the seeds of the cherry on a coffee tree. 

In a cup of coffee (black coffee) no flavouring, milks etc there are approx 2 calories. It's really not a lot too it, a very small amount of protein and fat. So black coffee really isn't going to effect you if you are on a weight loss journey in a simple answer. HOWEVER

and I say however because many people over consume coffee and obviously coffee has caffeine in it and is the sole reason why many of us feel like we need a coffee for the pick me up and the accelerated feeling we get from it. Even decaf coffee has caffeine just a lot less. 

All coffee depended on brands vary with the caffeine content but I have taken averages from my research and listed them below for you;

Brewed (cafe) per 8oz - 110mg

Brewed decaf per 8oz - 5mg

Espresso - 50mg

Instant per 8oz - 65mg

Instant decaf per 8oz - 2mg

As you can see from the above facts supermarket and instant coffee contain a lot less caffeine then if you where to buy a coffee from a cafe. 

For many I honestly feel like coffee consumption is a habit or at least over consumed due to work and lifestyle situations. For me despite being a Mother of two young babes, I still feel like my morning coffee happens out of habit, I don't feel like I need it as such, it's just what I do, I have my oats then I make myself a coffee before I head to the gym, is that such a bad thing? Does coffee have a negative effect on our overall health and well being? 

Considering I am not a Doctor, here are my views on the benefits of dropping back on our coffee intake. You'll save money, your will lower your blood pressure, you will more than likely sleep better due to to drop in caffeine (I always try to not drink coffee after 2pm at the latest as caffeine has a life span of 4-6 hours), better moods as caffeine can alter you state and make you lethargic and alter brain pathways as it is an addictive substance, less prone to feel anxious - those who drink coffee will often report (myself included) that the coffee feeds your anxiety this is because the caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands, your teeth and skin health will improve in most cases, your body will become more hydrated as coffee is dehydrating to the body, giving your body a chance to rest so that the caffeine will work - overtime our body builds up a tolerance to caffeine and you will no longer feel that accelerated feeling you once did and finally over consumption of caffeine over time can lead to the jitters or shaky hands. 

So does all of this mean you should give up coffee? Not necessarily, I think it's important not to rely on any substance to get you through your days or work load. I think it is wise to access your consumption and assure they align with your goals perhaps cut back or even cycle off the caffeine for a while to allow your body and adrenal glands to rest, I have been replying my morning coffee with a peppermint tea and surprisingly enough I don't notice a different in not having it, I definitely feel it's more a mental thing than anything, try be stronger than your thoughts because remember too much of anything is not good.

Crystal x