Non-Dairy Creamer Increases Coffee Calories Despite Stable Consumption
Study Findings on American Diets
The research, published online on October 19 in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics , analyzed dietary reports from 30,000 US adults over 20. From 2003 to 2018, average daily coffee consumption held steady at about 13 ounces. Yet, the energy intake from coffee climbed from 43 to 60 kilocalories daily.
Top Coffee Additions by Calorie Impact
In 2018, non-dairy creamer, sugar, or syrups were the most common additions by caloric impact. Dairy milk followed these ingredients. Coffee offers health benefits. However, adding sugar or fat can offset these gains. Fang Fang Zhang, a professor and senior author, noted, „As we better understand what people consume, we can better decipher the link between nutrition and overall health.” Research Methodology The study used data from eight consecutive NHANES cycles, spanning 2003 to 2018. The sample included 30,000 representative adults. Coffee drinks were split into plain and added varieties. Additions were categorized: dairy milk, half-and-half, dairy cream, non-dairy milk, non-dairy creamer, sugar/syrup, sugar substitutes, and others like alcohol or cocoa powder. USDA databases aided in quantifying pre-mixed or powdered additions.
Consumption Trends
Total plain coffee consumption was unchanged nationally during the period. In 2018, the most common additions by weight were dairy milk (21.4g daily), non-dairy creamer (8.1g daily), and sugar (4.4g daily). Dairy milk and sugar substitutes showed no significant change since 2003. Non-lactose additions grew substantially, from 3.65g to 10.5g daily. Non-dairy creamer saw the largest rise, from 3.37g to 8g daily.
Caloric Contribution Analysis
By 2018, non-dairy creamer added the most calories per cup, contributing 18.5 kilocalories daily. Sugar followed at 16 kilocalories, and dairy milk at 11 kilocalories. In 2003, non-dairy creamer contributed only 7.71 kilocalories daily. Yongyi Pan, lead author, stated, „Non-dairy creamer added to coffee surpassed sugar and dairy products in total energy contribution.”He added that non-lactose creamers can be high in saturated fats, explaining the calorie jump.
Lifestyle Correlations
The study found links between lifestyle and coffee intake. Adults with less sleep or longer shifts drank more coffee. Coffee consumption was similar across high-quality and low-quality diets. Authors noted that self-reported data has measurement errors due to daily dietary variation. Bingjie Zhou assisted with this during his doctoral studies.