Can I Drink Coffee on Medifast?

Can I Drink Coffee on Medifast?
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Although the types of sweeteners and creamers you can use are limited, you are allowed to drink coffee on the Medifast diet. Medifast is a low-carbohydrate, low-fat diet consisting of five prepackaged meals per day and one prepared meal. Consult your doctor before beginning any weight-loss program.

Medifast Diet

Medifast includes a combination of prepackaged and freshly prepared meals. The calorie intake is 800 to 1,000 per day. Products you can buy from the company include eggs, oatmeal, soups, drinks and pancakes, plus pudding, brownies, soft-serve, shakes and bars. You are responsible for supplementing the packaged foods with a high protein meal and vegetables. Side effects of Medifast include headaches, constipation or diarrhea, dizziness, hair loss, leg cramps, bad breath, feeling cold and extra gas. Side effects are more common at the start of the diet.

Medifast and Coffee

You can drink any non-caloric drinks on Medifast. Coffee, unsweetened tea and diet soda are some beverages without calories. If you are in the mood for coffee flavor but don't want to drink actual coffee, Medifast also has meals that taste like the drink. These include cappuccinos -- including a caffeinated one, a Swiss mocha shake and coffee-flavored soft serve. Drinking a lot of coffee on Medifast can make you feel more jittery than usual, since your calorie intake is severely reduced.

Creams That Are Allowed

Medifast places limitations on the amount and types of fats you can eat each day. Depending on the fat content of your fresh meal, you can have up to two fat servings per day and include them in your coffee. Include 2 tbsp. of half and half in coffee for one of your fat servings. Some creams are considered condiments and not fat servings. You can limit them to three per day. These include 1 tbsp. of skim, 1 percent, 2 percent or whole milk. The company states that lattes are not allowed on the program because they contain too much milk, which increases your carbohydrate consumption. Flavored coffee creamers with carbohydrates and fats are not permitted on the program.

Sweeteners Allowed

Medifast allows you to add flavorings to your coffee, as long as the flavorings don't contain calories. Sugar-free syrups can add excitement and variety to your coffee, since they are available in numerous flavors. You can have 1 to 2 tbsp. of sugar-free syrup or one packet of artificial sweetener. You could also try up to five drops, or 1 tsp, of flavor extract. Each serving is considered a condiment. The program allows you to have three condiments per day.

References

Article reviewed by GlennK Last updated on: Jul 21, 2011

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