Rick delicious warmth. Coffee. I love coffee. I drink coffee everyday. Yes I’m a Health Coach and I drink coffee.
Maybe you think that’s wrong of me but it is my one true addiction. Coffee is an important part of our history and our culture today. I would be willing to bet that next to water, coffee is the most consumed beverage in the world. One quick search and my suspicions are confirmed.
Coffee is a controversial topic though. Is it healthy? Is it not? Many people can’t imagine giving it up while others never drink coffee or caffeine of any kind. As with anything in my coaching practice the answer to that question lies not only in the details of how the food is made and how its sourced but also who you are and what you need. There are pros and cons to drinking coffee so I’ll let you rely on your personal needs when it comes to deciding the answer for yourself.
You can read about the quirks and perks of coffee here. But I want to talk about the various ways that I, as a Health Coach, take my coffee consumption to new health heights.
Top 10 Ways to Make Your Coffee Healthy
1.) Switch to organic.
Conventional coffee is one of the most chemical laden products in the world. USDA Certified Organic coffee will not contain any persistent pesticides. This will reduce the toxic load on your body. The fewer the toxic materials you’re consuming the less you’re storing in fat cells that your body creates to protect your vital organs. Switching to organic will only enhance the naturally occurring nutritional benefits of coffee instead of counteracting all that antioxidant goodness.
2.) A la French press.
French press coffee uses a coarser grind. Because of the unique brewing process, more of the healthy oils are retained. This is the kind of coffee that I personally drink. I also like pour over coffee which is similar but uses a filter which catches some of the natural oils. Using a filter with pour over coffee can be good for you if you have high cholesterol.
3.) Cut the Keurig.
Stop using Keurigs. They’re wasteful and filthy. Life is already so busy, who has time to clean the hidden tubes and water tanks of a Keurig? Overtime, these damp places build up bacteria and algae which are super harmful to your health. Plus, eliminating chemical laden mini plastic cups from your diet is a great idea.
4.) Make your own metabolism boosting organic flavored creamer.
Save money on store bought coffee flavorings by making you’re own for pennies on the dollar. Most store bought coffee flavorings are full of junk, refined sugar, high fructose corn syrup, poor quality dairy, and preservatives. All of these things are robbing you of good health. It’s an easy switch. Try this one.
5.) Super coffee with Superfoods.
Maca root and raw cacao are two super foods that you can easily add to your coffee. Similar to yam or sweet potato, this Peruvian root vegetable has powerful energy boosting properties. Maca is known for it’s ability to increase virility and stamina. Many people in South America drink a warm brewed maca root drink instead of coffee or they simply add some to their coffee. Raw cacao is another superfood that will enhance the nutritional benefits of your coffee. Its bitter like coffee and is also a bean. Truly coffee and chocolate are two peas in a pod. Try making you’re own nutritious mocha late instead of falling for some syrupy calories bomb.
6.) Add real puréed pumpkin for fiber and minerals.
You may have never guessed this, but pureed pumpkin dissolves completely when added to coffee. Seriously. I’ve tried it and have had to add nearly an entire can of pumpkin to get the thick texture similar to a pumpkin spice late. If you need more fiber in your diet, and honestly who doesn’t, this is a simple win for you. Add a few tablespoons to your coffee cup and stir. You’ll almost never know its there. Or you can up the ante. Whip pumpkin, vanilla extract, coconut milk (from a can), maple syrup and coffee together. Yum. So much cheeper than Starbucks.
7.) Use a plant based milk instead of half and half.
These days dairy alternatives are endless. You can’t go wrong with any option but do your research. Avoid the thickening agent carageenen, too much added sugar or colorings. Always read food labels. Flax, rice, soy, almond, cashew and coconut (not to be confused with what you find in a can) are all tasty options. Try a few, or all, before you land on one you like. These are much lower in fat and calories. Many brands have sugar free options.
8.) Brew with purified water, not tap.
There are no two ways about it. Good water is essential to good health. Though we have clean water on tap in the west, here in the States you’ll still find chemicals like chlorine and fluoride. Avoid boiling water with these chemicals. The flavor of the coffee is tip top with fresh spring water. Pick up a gallon of reverse osmosis or spring water for $.39 at any health food store and tell me if you can’t feel the difference.
9.) Use natural sweeteners.
Ditch the sweet-n-low, white refined sugar or that other synthetic garbage. Many of these man-made sweeteners are neurotoxic, the exact opposite of awesome. I like my braincells so instead, if I want to sweeten my coffee I use stevia or coconut sugar.
10.) Add cinnamon or other nutritional spices.
Cinnamon is a natural blood sugar balancer which is why its a perfect coffee mate. Coffee can cause spikes and crashes in blood sugar which might leave you feeling more jittery and erratic than the caffeine itself. South Americans have a long tradition of brewing coffee with cinnamon. Try a dash of cardamom or nutmeg.
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