Blog
Is Coffee Creamer Or Half and Half Healthier?
When it comes to elevating your coffee experience, there are various coffee add-ins available for selection. When the craving strikes, which one should you turn to? Half and half or coffee creamer may be great choices that don’t contain added sugars and saturated fats; additionally, grass-fed dairy or plant-based milk options could provide valuable nourishment that could support overall body wellness.
When selecting a nutritious coffee creamer, the key to selecting one lies within its ingredients list. In an ideal world, the list would consist of minimal and easily identifiable ingredients. As more processed products contain additional additives for shelf stability and taste enhancement purposes; many creamers utilize preservatives, stabilizers and emulsifiers in their composition to protect from spoilage while also maintaining a creamy texture, all which may increase sugar and saturated fat intake from its final product.
Key words to look out for when reviewing ingredients lists include glycerol, mono- and diglycerides, polysorbate 60 and sorbitol, as these compounds have been shown to raise cholesterol in the bloodstream and may contribute to obesity when consumed regularly. Also look for products containing natural sweeteners like stevia extract, erythritol or monk fruit as these will help reduce sugar consumption while still adding flavorful beverages!
Both half and half and flavored creamers come in either powder or liquid forms, with liquid varieties more frequently used for making iced coffee. When selecting either option, always read the label thoroughly as some flavored creamers can contain up to 9 grams of saturated fat per tablespoon in addition to an unhealthy dose of sugar.
Prymal offers an ideal non-dairy coffee creamer option – featuring fun flavors like birthday cake, cinnamon dolce and Smores while providing calcium and vitamin D. Coconut milk powder provides rich, creamy flavor without all of the calories associated with traditional creamers.
Half and half is an ideal dairy option when looking for low-calorie, high-fat beverages to add. But it is important to remember that conventional half and half contains up to 1 gram of saturated fat per tablespoon compared with Organic Valley Grassmilk Half and Half which has only milk and cream from grass-fed cows, meaning less than two grams of sugar and one gram of carbohydrates in every tablespoon serving.
If you prefer plant-based milks, try blending 14 cups of hemp seeds with 1/4 cup of water in a blender until they form the consistency of light tan creamer – this can then be stirred into your morning cup of joe, as well as substituting for heavy whipping cream in recipes that call for it.