Looking to justify your coffee addiction? Well, look no further because your coffee consumption might actually fit into a guideline. You may have heard the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans were recently released. Never heard of them? Well, here’s the deal: the Dietary Guidelines for Americans represent a collection of latest scientific research about nutrition and health, and that research is put into a guideline to help Americans live a healthy lifestyle. The Dietary Guidelines are updated every 5 years with the latest scientific evidence. The updates have occurred since 1980, however, this is the first time a coffee recommendation was released in the guidelines.
Coffee lovers, espresso your thanks to me later, because you're going to like what you're about to hear.
Research has shown that about 70-90% of caffeine consumed by Americans is via coffee, tea and specialty coffee beverages, such as, lattes or cappuccinos. Most of the research is done specifically on coffee. With this new data in mind, the Dietary Guidelines have stated that Americans can consume 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day! If you like specifics, those cups of coffee should not exceed 400 mg of caffeine per day. Now you don’t have to feel guilty when going for your 4th cup of coffee in the office because these guidelines are based on numbers that can fit into a healthy lifestyle. And if you're someone like my dad (the man literally wouldn’t be caught dead without a cup of coffee in his hand), maybe you can tell the people that call you crazy to look into the dietary guidelines before making assumptions about your love for coffee.
Before you start getting stir crazy about this new information, read more about a healthy way to brew your love for coffee. The guidelines do not recommend pouring Bailey’s or Sambuca into your coffee. (Sorry, Dad!) Mixing alcohol and caffeine (which includes coffee) is not considered safe because you may experience adverse health effects. Another thing to be aware of before you start drinking 5 cups a day, is too be cautious of the coffee beverages you are choosing. Most coffee lovers enjoy their java with non-dairy creams, high-fat milk products, sweeteners, syrups, or whipped cream. All of these ingredients make a delicious cup of coffee, but adding them to 5 cups a day can add up to tons of added sugar and calories-so be cautious when choosing coffee beverages. I typically drink my coffee black but if I want a specialty coffee beverage, I choose low-fat dairy/creamers, no-sugar sweeteners and skip the whip. Now go grab your next cup of coffee and begin living a healthy lifestyle, Dietary Guidelines style. And thanks a latte for reading this post!
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