At the bar, at home or in the office, coffee is without doubt one of the most consumed beverages. Although the classic espresso remains the most drunk, in recent years other types of coffee have been making headway. Among these is ginseng. The merit is of the virtues of which the root is rich, with which it is prepared, which has tonic and energizing properties. It contains many active ingredients useful to support the nervous system, such as zinc and copper. But can this type of coffee be consumed even if one is on a diet or is getting fat? We asked the doctor Nicoletta Bocchino, nutritionist biologist.

What is different compared to the classic espresso

Ginseng coffee is a drink usually prepared with a mixture of coffee and dried root or ginseng aroma. «Compared to traditional espresso, it generally contains a lower percentage of caffeine. But sometimes it can contain unhealthy ingredients added to make its taste more pleasant. They can be fats, for example vegetable oils, or sugars such as glucose syrup or, still, additives such as emulsifiers. In addition, some ginseng coffee preparations contain milk and sugar in the first place, and finally coffee and ginseng which occupy the last places on the label. This is why it is important to ask for or read the information on the packaging before buying it at the supermarket or bar. The risk is to drink a mixture based on ingredients that risk weighing on the line and on health ", explains the expert.

How to consume it

Coffee with ginseng compared to the classic coffee has the disadvantage of having a higher calorie content: a cup can contain from 30 to 80 calories compared to 10 for a classic unsweetened espresso. "The best way to avoid quarreling with the scale is to prefer those made with only coffee and ginseng root, to drink it moderately, limiting it to two cups a day and to take it without sugar. To make it more pleasant it is possible, for example, to consume it with a pinch of star anise powder or cinnamon. Spices, in addition to being excellent substitutes for sugar and sweeteners, make its taste particularly pleasant ", suggests the expert.