When functional medicine practitioner Will Cole introduces intermittent fasting to his patients, one of the first questions they usually ask is, is it okay to have coffee during my fasting period?
We also. Fortunately, Cole answers these questions and more in his latest book, Intuitive Fasting, out this week on goop Press. Its clear, flexible four-week program includes menus, recipes and daily meal plans. And it is also wonderful training on the most effective ways to fast and what foods to eat and when to enhance the benefits of intermittent fasting. Throughout the book, Cole shares holistic strategies for reducing inflammation, recharging your metabolism, and restoring bowel health.
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goop Press INTUITIVE FASTING bookstore, $ 26
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That brings us back to coffee. In this adapted excerpt from Intuitive Fasting, Cole explains some good news: Yes, you can drink coffee while you fast – and this can help you maintain metabolic flexibility. There are other ways to maximize the benefits of a fasting period as well, including utilizing different types of tea for various unique benefits. It’s all part of Chapter 10: Your Intuitive Fasting Toolbox.
PS Cole is teaching a workshop on intuitive fasting at our next Wellness Summit starting March 6th. It is designed as a (fully digital) reset: you will be guided through courses, workshops and discussions throughout the month. And for anyone interested in trying the four-week intermittent fasting plan, Cole has agreed to lead the group through this plan. You can access it on video and Slack all month long.
Unpacking Your Intuitive Fasting Toolbox:
Coffee answers
Adapted from Will Cole’s intuitive fasting
Coffee is a controversial topic in the wellness world. For the purposes of the 4 Week Flexible Fasting Plan, coffee consumption is acceptable as long as you do not add milk or sugar. Why? Because coffee has no calories or sugar and can help you establish metabolic flexibility. Coffee has anti-inflammatory, fat burning, and insulin balancing properties, and is also an excellent source of antioxidants. There’s also evidence that coffee and caffeine can reduce appetite and even help your body burn more calories.
For coffee lovers, this is great news! Enjoy your coffee throughout the plan – you don’t have to deprive yourself of your favorite beverage! If you’re used to coffee with milk and sugar and want a fast-friendly, creamy coffee recipe, try making your coffee keto-friendly by adding MCTs.
By adding healthy fats to your coffee, you’re giving your brain exactly what it needs to be mentally sharp and your body what it needs to be physically energized.
Fasting coffee
Makes an 8 ounce coffee
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1 tablespoon grass-fed ghee
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1 tablespoon of coconut oil or MCT oil
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1 cup of freshly brewed organic coffee
Stir all ingredients with a mixer or hand milk frother until frothy.
All in all, you don’t want to overdo it either. Coffee contains caffeine, which is a powerful drug. If you drink too much it can lead to anxiety, insomnia, digestive problems, palpitations, high blood pressure, panic attacks, nervousness, and even nausea and vomiting. I don’t have to tell you that you want to avoid these things. My recommendation is to continue with your typical coffee habits throughout the plan. It is definitely not the time to increase your caffeine intake or start drinking caffeine for the first time.
This is especially true if you think you have a hormonal imbalance or sensitivity to caffeine. A gene variant that codes for the enzyme CYP1A2 causes humans to metabolize caffeine more slowly. I often test to see if my patients have this genetic variant because slow metabolizers don’t get along well with caffeine. Even a small cup will make you feel nervous and heart racing. If you think coffee might be a problem for you, the 4 Week Flexible Fasting Plan is a great opportunity to lower your consumption and see how you are feeling.
For tea drinkers
The fasting London fog
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1 Earl Gray tea bag
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1 cup of hot water
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¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
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1 tablespoon grass-fed ghee
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1 tablespoon of coconut oil or MCT oil
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Keto sweetener to taste
Brew the tea in hot water – covered – for 3 to 5 minutes. Then mix all of the ingredients with a mixer or handheld milk frother until they are frothy.
Gray tea is a black tea that traditionally contains bergamot oil. Beyond the taste, I love Earl Gray for its health benefits. Personally, I drink organic Earl Gray tea when I fast intermittently – and I make sure it has real bergamot, not just bergamot flavor. If you don’t have Earl Gray tea on hand, you can mix a drop or two of pure bergamot essential oil into black tea for the same taste and benefits as Earl Gray. Bergamot oil can also be added to various types of foods such as dips and desserts to give them a touch of citrus flavor.
Adapted to intuitive fasting. Copyright © 2021 by Will Cole. Excerpted with permission from goop Press and Rodale Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without the written permission of the publisher.
This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, nor should it be used as a substitute for specific medical advice. To the extent that this article contains advice from any doctor or health care professional, the views expressed are the views of the cited expert and do not necessarily reflect the views of goop.
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