Some people have a guilty pleasure in drinking coffee creamer, whereas others might find it weird and odd to have coffee creamer itself.
If you’re one of those people who enjoy consuming coffee creamer, you’d often wonder whether it’s okay to drink coffee creamer and what are its effects.
Consuming coffee creamer is harmless, but it does not have any nutritional value. However, consistent consumption of coffee creamers in large amounts can seriously affect your health.
You can have coffee creamer, but not just every day, and it’s best not to have more than three single-serve packets a day.
What Is Coffee Creamer?
Coffee creamer is a store-bought milk substitute for coffee.
You can add coffee creamer to your regular cup of coffee instead of adding milk. It’s more convenient to use as coffee creamers have a longer shelf life than milk. It’s vital to note that coffee creamers need to be refrigerated once you open them.
Coffee creamers are mostly popular in the US. Coffee creamers are not meant to be consumed independently but rather as an embellishment for coffee and tea drinks.
Ingredients for Coffee Creamer:
- Sugar
- Water
- Vegetable oil
Varieties of Coffee Creamer:
- Powdered
- Liquid
- Flavors such as hazelnut, caramel, chocolate, and other seasonal flavors.
- Sugar-free
- Fat-free
- Non-milk based creamers
Substitutes for Coffee Creamers
- Whole milk
- Half and half
- Cream
What Does Coffee Creamer Taste Like?
Since coffee creamer is a substitute for milk in your coffee, the taste and texture are very similar to whole milk and a half and half.
Coffee creamer tastes quite sweet and comes in multiple flavors, so the taste also depends on the flavor.
What Happens When You Drink Coffee Creamer by Itself?
Drinking coffee creamer by itself is a growing trend. By itself means that you drink it straight out of the creamer packets, and some people even drink it out of the huge bottles. The sweet and creamy nature of the coffee creamer makes people love it.
Because coffee creamers are made purely from sugar, oils, and thickeners, it won’t be good for your health if you consume it regularly and in large quantities.
It‘s not like drinking coffee creamer can become a cause for your death, but it can have adverse effects on your health. The main ingredient that is bad for you in coffee creamers is sugar and here are a few effects that sugar can cause:
- Obesity
- Tooth decay
- Cancer
- Heart diseases
- High cholesterol
- Type II diabetes
- Liver damage
Is It Safe to Drink Expired Coffee Creamer?
If the coffee creamer has expired and gone far out of date, bacteria will likely grow inside the coffee creamer.
If the coffee creamer has just expired but is still of good quality, drinking it will cause no harm. However, if the coffee creamer smells bad and tastes sour, do not drink it.
Expired coffee creamers with bacteria inside can make you severely ill. It can cause symptoms of food poisoning such as diarrhea, vomiting, and nausea. Drinking expired coffee creamers is likely to cause gastrointestinal symptoms.
How Do You Know If Coffee Creamer Has Gone Bad?
If the coffee creamer has gone bad, it will probably change in texture, smell, and taste.
The texture change can be in the form of clumps and or liquid turning into chunks.
The smell of expired or bad coffee creamer won’t be the same. Instead, the odor is likely to become sour.
The taste of the coffee creamer is also obviously going to change. If you’re not sure about your coffee creamer from the texture and smell, then you can take a spoonful and check for any taste changes.
Does Drinking Coffee Creamer Lead to Weight Gain?
Consuming coffee creamers without being mindful will lead to weight gain. But if you consume it vigilantly, you can also reduce weight while still enjoying your coffee creamer.
The coffee creamer will not significantly affect your weight if you’re taking this in very small amounts. But, if the coffee creamer is being consumed in large amounts, then the high calories may cause weight gain.
A tablespoon of coffee creamer contains approximately 10-25 calories. So unless you’re consuming the whole bottle, you’re good to go.
Takeaway
Coffee creamers have no nutritional value, such as minerals or vitamins. So consuming coffee creamer is usually harmless.
It is safe to consume coffee creamers if you do not consistently consume them in large amounts due to the excessive sugar and thickeners in the coffee creamer. Small amounts will also not lead to weight gain.
Coffee creamers that have gone bad should be avoided as they can lead to food poisoning symptoms and make you severely ill. You can observe the texture, smell, and taste to check whether your coffee creamer has gone bad.
References
https://www.quora.com/What-is-coffee-creamer-and-why-do-Americans-use-it-in-coffee-instead-of-milk
https://www.quora.com/Does-coffee-creamer-make-you-fat