I've been recently addicted to reading The Straits Times, Mind Your Body paper. It gives new and helpful information about leading a healthy lifestyle and about people and diseases.

As of today, this article written by Gary Hayden intrigues me the most. It's about the latest general fad that we teenagers and adults love to indulge in that is: Coffee-therapy. We all know that our mocha, latte, frappe and even ordinary coffee have calories to spare us but do we really know how much calories it does affect our health and waistline?

Starbucks Caramel Frappe

On average per coffee can amount up to 600 calories. That's right. A coffee beverage can load you more even than a dessert. Starbucks' 24oz Caramel Frappucino itself contains 500 calories including it's whipped cream - which is more than many of their cakes and biscuits! That is why we should treat these specialty beverages on occasional times only.

As quoted from the paper:

"Frequent, unthinking visits to the coffee shop can affect your health and waistline... By making informed choices you can cut down on the fat and calorific content of your beverages - and allow yourself guilt free visits to the coffee shop."

Therefore Gary suggested some tips and advices that we can do and to have a more healthier cuppa.

1. Request skimmed milk instead of full-fat. This can save you 80 calories on a large latte.

2. Choose small beverages instead of large ones. An 8oz drink contains only half the fat and calories of a 16oz.

3. If you are reaaly watching your calories, order brewed coffe and add low fat milk yourself.

4. Resist the indulgent extras: whipped cream, flavoured syrup, cookie bits.

5. Do not add sugar. If you must sweeten your drink, use a sugar substitute.

6. It is easy to be tempted by deserts while queing for your coffee. But these are often loaded with calories (even the low-fat versions). It is ok to succumb occasionally, but do not make it a habit.

7. When you do indulge in a muffin or a slice of cheesecake, halve the fat and calories by sharing with a friend.

The last point is effective cause you get to share your fats with your best buddy ot even your partner. So your not alone in this case.. Heh!

This article is found in The Strait Times, Mind Your Body on March 8 2006 paper, page 16. It is written by Gary Hayden, a freelance writer.