What's the best way to make a healthy cup of coffee? Well, here's 3 most important tricks to maximize the benefits of coffee and minimize the negatives:
1. First of all, you need to AVOID adding any refined sugar or harmful artificial sweeteners. I have mine without sugar but what you can do instead is use either a very small touch of organic maple syrup or a half packet of natural stevia to just lightly sweeten your coffee. If you like your coffee black with no sweetener at all, that's the healthiest way.
If you're getting your coffee at a coffee shop, make sure to avoid all of those fancy specialty coffees (sweetened flavored lattes, frappuccinos, etc) as they are almost ALWAYS loaded with extra sugars or artificial sweeteners. Some of those fancy coffee drinks at your favorite coffee shop can have 300-400 calories in just one coffee! Definitely not a healthy cup of coffee, good for your body, your blood sugar or insulin levels.
A latte or cappucino can be okay as long as you make sure to ask for it unsweetened, and then use your own stevia if you need a light sweet taste.
2. You also should try to AVOID at all costs any of those crappy artificial creamers (liquid or powder), which are usually made with corn syrup solids and hydrogenated oils (harmful trans fats). Instead, use a little bit of full-fat milk.
Or, better yet, coconut milk/cream is one of the healthiest creamer alternatives. Buy cans of organic coconut milk, and then after opening the can (shake the can well before opening), store the coconut milk in the fridge in a container. Note that the cans of coconut milk are much creamier and better as a coffee creamer than those cartons of "coconut milk drink" which are just watered down coconut milk.
Thick creamy coconut milk is the healthiest option for coffee creamer because it's loaded with super healthy saturated fats called medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), which are known to boost your immune system and your metabolism! Plus, coconut milk in coffee is just plain delicious! Try it. It's the best healthy creamer option by far for your healthy cup of coffee.
3. If you want to load your coffee up with more healthy antioxidants and good taste, try adding some cinnamon to your coffee (cinnamon can help control blood sugar and has many other health benefits). It's also really tasty in coffee!
You can also sometimes add a teaspoon of cocoa powder (non-sweetened) to your coffee to make a sort of mocha (but without the loads of sugar in a typical mocha you'd get at the coffee shop). The added cocoa powder also gives you great taste and a good dose of extra healthy antioxidants (and cocoa is also known for helping to lower blood pressure!)
I personally drink more tea than coffee.But despite the caffeine content, there is loads of data that show the high antioxidant levels and health benefits to coffee.
Lastly, it's extremely important to choose organic coffee beans, as conventional coffee is one of the most heavily treated crops with pesticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Remember that one of the many health risks with these chemicals is that some pesticides can act as "xenoestrogens" in your body, disrupting hormone balance for both men and women. Chronic xenoestrogen exposure can also be one cause of "stubborn abdominal fat" in both sexes as well as "man boobs" in men... so choose organic as often as you can with most foods, but especially with coffee!
If you love coffee, feel free to share this article with your coffee-loving friends and family.
So, keep enjoying your coffe, but try to make it healthier. You'll be glad you did.
Cheers
Joyce
www.joycehearn.com
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