Over half of all Americans like to drink coffee every day, and not just one cup; we’re talking, on average, three cups per day, which equals a whopping 400 million cups of coffee a day. This caffeine giddy-up gives us the magical fuel we need to go. Coffee is our morning fuel. But according to a 2017 study, we add a lot of “stuff” to our morning beverage of choice. The research showed that about two-thirds of coffee drinkers take a little sugar, creamer, flavoring, or spices in their coffee, and those additions add up in the calorie column.

It may surprise you to learn that you are drinking 69 fewer calories per day if you drink your coffee black. These extra items are often dense in energy and fat but low in nutritional value. However, what if we told you there is an ingredient you can add to your coffee that will sweeten it without adding to your daily caloric intake? Vanilla extract can do just that, and here’s why you should be adding it to your coffee.

Vanilla extract is that ubiquitous flavoring you keep in your spice cabinet and pull out when you are baking or are making whipped cream. But a few drops of this creamy liquid can also flavor and sweeten your coffee without the complications of sugar and half and half. This magical flavoring can increase your mental performance and enhance your mood while alleviating stomach aches, joint pain, and stress. This source suggests adding vanilla bean to your grounds. By so doing, your brewed cup of coffee will not only smell of the essence of vanilla; it will taste like it, too.

If you are a vanilla latte aficionado, vanilla extract will give you a very similar taste to this drink sans the sugar. An average serving of vanilla syrup clocks in at 20 grams of sugar per 2 tablespoons. When you skip that and go for the extract, it saves a vast amount of sugar, especially when you consider the daily recommended intake of sugar is just six teaspoons — 25 grams or 100 calories — per day for women and nine teaspoons — 36 grams or 150 calories — per day for men. So, the next time you need a little sweetener for your coffee, try some vanilla extract.