Drinking “Kosong” - A Simple Cup Can Change Your Health, One Sip at a Time

 1. How Your Daily Kopi or Teh Adds to Diabetes Risk

We don’t usually think twice about how much sugar goes into our drinks, especially if it’s just a kopi or teh. But when it comes to diabetes, those daily choices matter far more than we realise.

Excess sugar, even in small daily amounts, contributes to insulin resistance, a key trigger for type 2 diabetes.

Over time, this means your body struggles to manage blood sugar properly, leading to fatigue, weight gain, and eventually, serious complications like kidney failure, vision loss, or heart disease.

Let’s look at the sugar content in your drinks:

Drink	Sugar Level	Sugar per cup	Blood Sugar Impact
Kopi (regular)	~3 tsp (12g)	12g	High spike
Teh (regular)	~2.5 tsp (10g)	10g	High spike
Kopi/Teh less sugar	~1–1.5 tsp (4–6g)	4–6g	Moderate spike
Kopi/Teh kosong	0 tsp (0g)	0g	No spike

2. Start With Small Sips of Change

Going “kosong” can feel like too big a jump for some. Habits shift best when you start small.

What to do:

• Try alternating: kopi kosong one day, regular the next
  

• Reduce gradually: go from 3 tsp to 2 tsp, then 1
  

• Explore flavours: add cinnamon, ginger, or even oat milk to enhance the drink
  

Example: Auntie Ros used to say she “cannot function without sweet kopi.” But after a health scare, she started with less sugar, then slowly went to kosong. Now she jokes her kopi is “more gao, less guilt.”

3. Rethink Sweetness, Not Emotional Comfort

For many of us, drinks are tied to feelings: rest, routine, reward. But sweetness isn’t the only comfort a cup can bring.

Here’s how to reframe:

• Link your drink to energy, not indulgence
  

• Sip your kopi kosong with a nice breakfast, let the food provide natural sweetness
  

• Drink mindfully, notice the warmth, the aroma, the pause
  

Example: After work, Danny always made teh with 2 teaspoons of sugar. But as he grew more health-conscious, he started enjoying it with honeyed nuts or dates on the side. Now his teh kosong still feels like a treat, just a different kind.

4. Watch Out for the Hidden Add-Ons

Even if you think you’re drinking less sugar, pre-mixed drinks or canned options might tell a different story. Always check for these:

• Condensed milk (high sugar even in “less sugar” drinks)
  

• Sweetened creamers
  

• Canned or bottle kopi/teh often have 20-30g of sugar, more than a soda
  

Choose wisely. Kopi kosong isn’t just about what you remove, but what you avoid replacing.

5. Let the Choice Be About You

This isn’t just about numbers or rules, it’s about how you want to feel in your own body.

Be honest with yourself:

• “Am I drinking this out of habit or comfort?”
  

• “Do I feel better with less sugar?”
  

• “Am I ready to try something different, even for a week?”
  

Example: Lily noticed her energy would crash mid-morning after her kopi with condensed milk. She switched to kopi kosong with soy milk, and started feeling more alert and less sleepy. That was all the motivation she needed.

Take Note:

If you’re adjusting your sugar intake, be kind to yourself. Some days you’ll crave sweetness more. That’s normal. But each kosong cup is a quiet vote for your future well-being, and those little votes add up fast.

Conclusion:

Changing your drink may not seem life-changing. But when you look at what it saves, in sugar, energy crashes, and long-term risk, it’s more than just a health tip.

It’s a shift in how you care for yourself.

Your health needs steady steps and kind decisions. Choosing kopi or teh kosong isn’t about missing out, it’s about caring for yourself, one warm sip at a time. Written with Passion by: HappierHomes Admin