The Glycemic Index Diet for Dummies (58 page)
Is your favorite coffee drink making you gain weight?
Many people frequent coffee shops more than they do restaurants. Coffee in general is a low-glycemic item, which is good. Even when you add milk you're still in pretty decent shape. However, after you add all the others bells and whistles to your coffee, that once-low glycemic load increases — along with the amount of calories.
If you've ever wondered how many calories and sugar grams are in your favorite coffee drinks, then the following list can give you an idea. Oh, and just for reference, consuming 250 extra calories per day will lead to a 1/2-pound weight increase each week, or about a 24-pound weight increase in a year.
Regular coffee drinks:
Medium brewed coffee: 10 calories, no sugar
Gourmet coffee drinks:
Gourmet coffee drinks are good, but as you can see, many of the popular ones are equivalent to eating a dessert. (A couple also exceed the daily recommended sugar consumption of 12 teaspoons or less.) If you're trying to manage your weight, keep the gourmet coffee drinks to a once-in-a-while treat rather than an everyday habit. But if you must feed your gourmet coffee addiction, consider these alternatives and tips, which will decrease the calorie, sugar, and/or fat counts of your favorite coffee beverage: