Coffee with milk is a popular drink that can offer several health benefits, including supporting immune function, muscle gain, and weight loss. These effects depend on how much you drink and what else you eat throughout the day.
Many of these benefits are linked to caffeine and chlorogenic acid, which are bioactive compounds in coffee with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Milk also adds protein and vitamins that contribute to the drink’s overall nutrition profile.
Some people worry that caffeine reduces calcium absorption. In general, this is mainly a concern when caffeine intake is excessive and daily calcium intake is low.
Main benefits
The main health benefits of coffee with milk are:
1. Strengthening the immune system
Coffee with milk may help support the immune system because milk provides protein and vitamin A, which help the body produce, renew, and strengthen defense cells.
In addition, the amino acids and fats in whole milk combined with coffee polyphenols, such as chlorogenic acid and anthocyanins, may enhance the anti-inflammatory effects of these polyphenols. This can help immune cells respond better to inflammation in the body.
2. Supporting weight loss
Since it contains protein, coffee with milk may take longer to digest, helping you feel fuller between meals and potentially supporting weight loss.
Caffeine may also have a thermogenic effect, increasing energy expenditure and supporting fat burning.
Also recommended: 13 Thermogenic Foods (That Burn Fat & Boost Your Metabolism) tuasaude.com/en/thermogenic-foods3. Promoting muscle mass gain
Coffee with milk may help support muscle growth because milk provides high-quality protein, an essential nutrient for building muscle.
The calcium and magnesium in milk also aid normal muscle contraction, which plays a key role in developing and maintaining muscle tissue.
4. Improving concentration
Coffee with milk is rich in caffeine, which can increase the release of adrenaline, norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin in the body. This can improve concentration and reduce sleepiness.
5. Preventing constipation
Because it contains caffeine, coffee with milk can increase stomach and intestinal contractions, which may stimulate bowel movements and help prevent constipation.
Coffee also contains magnesium, a mineral with a mild laxative effect that can support intestinal movement and make stools easier to pass.
Is coffee with milk bad for you?
Coffee with milk provides protein, vitamins, and bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for most adults, up to 400 mg of caffeine per day is not generally associated with negative effects.
Although caffeine is sometimes thought to reduce calcium absorption from milk, this typically becomes a concern only with excessive coffee intake paired with low daily calcium intake. If you get the recommended amount of calcium each day, caffeine generally does not reduce absorption enough to cause calcium deficiency.
To help avoid interfering with calcium intake, it is recommended to keep total caffeine intake at no more than 400 mg per day, which is roughly equal to about 600 mL (20 oz) of brewed coffee.
However, for people with irritable bowel syndrome, lactose intolerance, or a cow’s milk protein allergy, coffee with milk may trigger symptoms such as diarrhea, excess gas, or itchy skin.
Does coffee with milk cause loose stools?
Coffee with milk may cause loose stools in some people because it contains caffeine, which can increase intestinal contractions and stimulate a bowel movement.
It may also cause diarrhea in people with lactose intolerance or a cow’s milk protein allergy, especially when milk is the trigger.
Nutrition facts
The table below provides nutritional information for a 200 mL (about 1 cup) serving of coffee with milk made with half coffee and half whole milk:
To get the full benefits of coffee with milk, it should be included as part of a well-balanced diet in combination with regular physical activity.
How to consume
You can make coffee with milk using either instant or ground coffee, combined with liquid or powdered milk in whole, reduced-fat, or skim varieties. It can be enjoyed hot or iced at any time of day, whether for breakfast, a mid-morning break, or an afternoon snack.
To get the benefits of this drink without affecting calcium absorption, it is recommended to keep total caffeine intake to a maximum of 400 mg per day, which is roughly equal to about 600 mL of brewed coffee.
Who should avoid it
Because it contains caffeine, children under 12 should not drink coffee with milk. People with reflux, ulcers, or gastritis may also need to avoid it, since caffeine can irritate the stomach lining.
Coffee with milk should also be avoided by people with insomnia, anxiety, tinnitus, vertigo, irritable bowel syndrome, cow’s milk protein allergy, or lactose intolerance.
It is also not recommended to drink coffee with milk along with other caffeine-containing foods and beverages, such as green tea, guarana, yerba mate, or chocolate. Too much caffeine can lead to palpitations, nausea, or dehydration.
Is coffee with milk safe to drink during pregnancy?
People who are pregnant can drink coffee with milk in moderation, but it’s generally recommended to keep caffeine under 200 mg per day, since regularly exceeding that amount may be linked to a higher risk of pregnancy complications, including miscarriage.
People who are pregnant can drink coffee with milk in moderation. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), moderate caffeine intake during pregnancy means keeping caffeine below 200 mg per day. Regularly exceeding that amount may be linked to a higher risk of pregnancy complications, including miscarriage.
200 mg of caffeine per day is roughly equal to 340 mL (12 oz) of brewed coffee, or about 3 cups of coffee with milk made with 100 mL brewed coffee and 100 mL milk per cup.