Coffee Raises Blood Sugar: Myth Or Truth?

Do you also grab a coffee to feel energised before heading to your workplace?

There is hardly going to be someone who will not love a cup of coffee in the morning or night or any time of the day. It smells heavenly, and the taste is pleasing to the tongue and heart, right? But have you ever wondered how coffee acts as an energy and mood booster? And does it increase blood sugar levels in your body for a kick start to the day?

Coffee is refreshing if you want the right start to the day. It is highly addictive due to the caffeine present in it. And as soon as you have a cup of this beverage, you feel energised because it kills fatigue. It lets you work harder without feeling low.

But do you know that coffee potentially increases some symptoms of high blood glucose levels in your body? And so, it is generally not suggested under diet plans for diabetes, and diabetics need to be careful with all caffeinated drinks.

As we talk about coffee, today's blog is all about coffee raising your blood sugar: myth or truth. So, let us begin!

Table Of Contents

1. Coffee And Diabetes: The Link

2. The Effects Of Coffee On The Human Body

3. How Coffee Raises Blood Sugar?

4. How To Control Coffee Consumption?

5. The Final Say

6. FAQs

Coffee And Diabetes: The Link

For those who do not know about diabetes, it is a condition in which a human's capacity to use blood glucose as a source of energy for the cells gets affected. 

Though new studies are also underway on how coffee affects blood sugar levels, according to the existing ones, diabetes or prediabetes patients should avoid the drink to prevent serious health issues this condition can cause. They should know about all the caffeinated items that can increase their blood sugar levels.

Human Body And Effects Of Coffee

It has been found that coffee affects human blood sugar levels and impacts kidney function. So, FDA has traditionally advised a daily caffeine intake limit of 400 mg, or nearly 4 to 5 cups, for healthy people. However, they suggest a lower portion for diabetes patients because a high concentration can harm their blood sugar levels.

Some might not know that caffeine and coffee typically have different physiological consequences. A recent study shows that regular coffee consumption directly affects insulin, with different effects depending on the person's health and overall caffeine intake.

According to studies, coffee not only boosts your metabolism and gives you energy, but it also has a few more significant impacts on your body:

1. Kidneys And Coffee 

The human body does not retain caffeine for long. As most caffeinated items are fluids, the kidneys filter them and remove them from the body through urine. So, caffeine overworks kidneys, which might lead to difficulties in the long run. You may try different power detox plans to ensure healthy kidneys.

2. Coffee And The Brain 

Consuming caffeine affects your brain and the central nervous system. To feel energised, people enjoy drinking coffee. As coffee temporarily speeds up your metabolism, you drink more to avoid feeling exhausted. Here, you need to understand that drinking too much coffee might give you headaches and make you uneasy. Like coffee, caffeine addiction can cause withdrawal symptoms like agitation and more. So, be careful with such drinks for a healthy mind, body, and soul. 

3. Metabolism And Caffeine

Caffeine substantially impacts the body's metabolism by speeding it up. Studies show that coffee accelerates your metabolic activity and causes it to burn calories for energy production. Therefore, the more coffee you intake, your metabolism will function quickly. Here, you might not know that caffeine also aids in fat burning by accelerating metabolism. So, it can help you with your weight loss plan.

How Coffee Raises Blood Sugar Levels?

Findings from small, meticulously controlled experiments on coffee say that it has the capacity to boost blood sugar levels, and the researchers will eventually prepare a significant analysis. However, as per the information currently available, here is how coffee may raise blood sugar levels in the body: 

1. Added Sugars

Drinking coffee with added sugars increases your risk of developing high blood sugar. Syrups with flavourings are present in pre-packaged coffee drinks. As high fructose corn syrup is used as a substitute for sugar in flavouring syrups, after consuming excessive amounts of this syrup, insulin resistance may happen in your body, and blood sugar levels may rise.

2. Overindulgence Can Cause Health Issues

As far as consumed in the limit, coffee will not affect your sugar levels. However, taking excessively may eventually lead to health issues like high BP or kidney problems. 

Controlling Coffee Consumption To Avoid Side Effects

We know you are a coffee lover. While occasionally consuming it is not dangerous, you should manage your coffee intake to prevent further health issues. It may harm your health if taken in excess, so be cautious even though there is no evidence to show if it increases blood sugar levels.

If you wish to drink coffee without experiencing any adverse side effects, consider the following suggestions: 

1. Do Not Add Sugar

If you do not want coffee to affect your health, do not add sugar or other sweeteners to the cup. While coffee may slightly increase your blood sugar levels, the added sugar will significantly change your glucose levels. Sugar-free alternatives might be unsafe because too much fructose is also bad for your health.

2. Say No To Bottled Coffee

Instead of having bottled coffee, always try to make your coffee at home or get a regular coffee from a good cafe. Because these bottles might have extra sugar, and if your coffee does not raise your blood sugar level, these sweeteners might.

3. Reduce Consumption

Limit your daily consumption of black coffee to three cups, even though one cup of cappuccinos or milk and cream coffee is all you need for a day. Also, do not add syrups to your coffee to make it less harmful. If you have diabetes, drink less sweet coffee with sugar substitutes.

The Final Say

Though there are numerous reasons for increased blood sugar, coffee is one of them. While some studies say that coffee can make diabetic people more insulin-resistant, others point out that the blood sugar surge remains for a while.

There is no reliable proof, so it can take time to get general findings because all previous experiments have used tiny sample sizes. Besides, studies have shown that people with regular caffeine intake do not experience any negative impacts on their blood sugar levels. But, again, it is not advisable for now to say whether the outcome holds the same for everyone.

Given the conflicting research on coffee's effects on blood sugar levels, speak with a doctor to decide if you should make it a part of your daily routine and how many cups suit you. Also, a cup of coffee an hour or two after breakfast will not do much harm to you.

However, everyone's response to coffee varies. So long as you track your blood glucose level and do not have any medical reasons to avoid coffee, there is no harm in enjoying a cup every day.

FAQs

1. Which drinks are high in caffeine? 

Besides coffee, you will find caffeine in green tea, yerba tea, energy drinks, and chocolate drinks. 

2. How many grams of caffeine is safe for the human body?

According to the FDA, a healthy adult can consume 400mg of caffeine, which makes 4 to 5 cups daily. But you should also connect with a health expert to decide this because each body reacts differently. 

3. Is having coffee every day addictive?

Well, this depends on your definition of addiction. However, as it is a stimulant to your central nervous system, it may cause dependence without causing any harm to your health if taken responsibly. 

4. Where to find the purest coffee beans? 

Columbia, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Jamaica are the countries where you can find the highest-quality coffee beans. 

About ToneOp

ToneOp is a platform dedicated to improving and maintaining your good health through a comprehensive range of goal-oriented diet plans and recipes. It also intends to provide value-added content to our consumers.