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For countless coffee enthusiasts, their morning brew isn’t quite complete without a splash of creamer. Although it transforms the bitter flavor of coffee into something more palatable, many creamers are loaded with unhealthy ingredients, preservatives, additives, and sugars. Despite this, dedicated coffee lovers often find it challenging to abandon their creamy indulgence. However, those who have managed to do so often report feeling better. Eat This, Not That! spoke to individuals who stopped using creamer and experienced notable benefits within just three days. Here’s what happened after they dropped this habit.
Improved Mental Clarity
Many coffee creamers contain artificial sweeteners and inflammatory oils, which are known to cause blood sugar spikes, crashes, and inflammation. Eliminating these creamers can have significant benefits, such as enhanced focus and clarity. “For many years, I depended on Coffee Mate French Vanilla creamer to get through 5 AM wake-ups, until I realized the sugar crashes were undermining my surgical focus and heightening my stress,” says Dr. Sabrina Kong DVM. “While I advised pet owners on nutrition and helped rehabilitate anxious shelter dogs, I was consuming hydrogenated oils and corn syrup daily,” she admits. She stopped abruptly two years ago, with her brain fog lifting within three days. “Rather than experiencing a jittery burst, I felt a sustained alertness that persisted through consecutive spay surgeries and late-evening shelter duties,” she describes. “I was amazed by the steadiness of my hands during intricate suture procedures, and I didn’t hit an energy slump while training a nervous pit bull mix later that day.”
Less Bloating
Creamers often contain lactose, which can be hard for some to digest, leading to bloating and gas. However, eliminating it can soothe the digestive tract and reduce bloating. “I chose to stop using coffee creamer to cut down on my daily calories and focus more on natural, health-focused choices,” says Matthew Tran, Founder & Engineer of Birchbury. “I had been using Nutpods for its creamy texture and gentle sweetness but realized that dropping it could lower my overall calorie intake.” Within three days, he experienced notable changes, such as reduced bloating. “Creamers, particularly sweetened ones, can add 20 to 100 calories per serving, and without them, my body felt lighter and less bloated,” he notes. Dr. Kong noticed similar improvements. “By day two, my scrubs felt looser, and the persistent bloating I ascribed to stress disappeared,” she explains. “As a specialist in canine rehabilitation, I identify signs of inflammation like stiffness, puffiness, and fatigue. Suddenly, I felt lighter, more focused, and agile during my trail runs.”
Coffee Taste Improved
Creamers can alter the flavor of coffee by masking the bitterness and without it, some coffee lovers don’t like the taste. But that changed for Dr. Kong and Tran. “I noticed and appreciated the complex, nutty and fruity notes more than I had previously overlooked,” says Tran and Dr. Kong she shared that black coffee tasted too bitter, but by the second week that improved. “I could enjoy notes of chocolate and citrus in my local roast, a complexity creamer masked,” she says. “Now, I sip slowly, savoring the ritual instead of gulping a sugar vehicle. That mindfulness spills into my work, and now I’m more present during patient consults and gentler with anxious pets.” Dr. Kong quit adding creamer to her coffee three years ago and says she “still has no regrets.”
Heather Newgen
