Top Tips to Make Your Coffee Healthier
Coffee is an interesting drink. None of us like it when we’re kids, but as we get older, we acquire a taste for it. As coffee is one of America’s favorite hot beverages and consumed by many, the question we all should be asking is, is coffee good for you? In this article, we are going to look at the benefits of drinking coffee and how you can make your morning coffee healthier.
Benefits of Drinking Coffee
Research has shown that drinking coffee can have many health benefits.
Here are some of those benefits:
- Boosts energy levels and performance: The caffeine content in coffee can increase energy levels in some people. When the coffee gets into the bloodstream, it travels to the brain and can improve neurons that control cognitive function, mood, and memory.
- Boots metabolism: Coffee can raise metabolism and help burn fat at a faster rate.
- Helps protect against heart disease: Studies show that drinking a moderate amount of coffee lowers the risk of heart disease.
- Lower risk of diabetes: Research has shown that drinking three cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of diabetes.
- Provides antioxidants: Antioxidants help prevents cells from being oxidized by toxins, chemicals, and inflammation.
- Reduces the risk of Alzheimer disease and dementia: According to research, drinking, 3 – 5 cups of coffee a day can decrease your chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia in later life.
Coffee may not be beneficial for everyone. If you have certain heart conditions, are sensitive to caffeine, or are pregnant, then you should drink decaf coffee.
How to Make Coffee Healthier
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Coffee drinks are often far from merely being a little jolt in your morning as they used to be. They now contain lots of added sugars, fats and chemicals to bring forth a certain consistency for the buyer. Many of the iced blended drinks are a health catastrophe, and even some of the ‘skinny’ drinks pose health risks in the form of chemicals unabsorbable by the body.
With all these added extras present in coffee, how can we make our favorite warm beverage healthier?
Whether you’re a coffee fanatic that wants healthier choices or a just-drink-whatever-sounds-good kind of person, there are several healthy coffee choices available. You can make healthy coffee choices in your home espresso machine that won’t flood your body with sugars, saturated fats, and chemicals.
Follow these essential eight tips to make your coffee healthier.
1. Avoid Drinking Too Much
While drinking a moderate amount of coffee can have health benefits, drinking too much can be counterproductive. So if you are a frequently drinking eight cups of coffee a day and downing the best espresso shots you can make, you may want to rethink your coffee intake.
Try to get the balance of your coffee consumption right. Listen to your body. It will tell you if it’s had too much caffeine. Drink no more than your body can comfortably tolerate.
2. Avoid Artificial Creamers
Artificial creamers tend to be highly processed. Alternatively, consider adding some full-fat cream to your coffee.
Diary is an excellent calcium source which is great for the bones.
3. Add Some Cinnamon to Your Coffee
Cinnamon is said to aid in lowering cholesterol, blood glucose, and triglycerides in people with diabetes.
Cinnamon mixes well with the flavor of the coffee. Just add a dash to your drink to increase the health benefits of your coffee with the bonus of it tasting great!
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4. Avoid Adding Artificial Sweeteners and Refined Sugar
Sugar is one of the worst ingredients in the modern diet due to its high amount of fructose and its link to many diseases such as diabetes and obesity.
Avoid adding any sugar to your drink for a more healthy coffee. If you feel the need to add a sweetener opt for a natural sweetener rather than an artificial one.
5. Add Some Cocoa to Your Coffee
Mix things up a bit y adding some cocoa to your morning coffee. Cocoa is full of antioxidants which are associated with reducing the risk of heart disease.
6. Choose Organic Beans
Many coffee beans are sprayed with synthetic or pesticides during the growing process. These chemicals were never intended for human consumption. It is best to consider buying organic coffee beans to use in your coffee grinder as they contain lower amounts of synthetic pesticides.
7. Brew Your Coffee Using a Paper Filter
Brewed coffee contains cafestol which can result in raising cholesterol levels in the blood. By brewing your coffee using a paper filter, it will stop the cafestol and let the caffeine and beneficial antioxidants filter through.
8. Use a Cows Milk Alternative
If you are making coffee at home, there are many alternatives available to full-fat cows milk which have a variety of tastes and textures. Why not try one of the following healthier milk options in your coffee.
- Oat milk
- Almond milk
- Hazelnut milk
- Soy milk
By substituting or adding a few ingredients to your everyday coffee, you can make your morning coffee healthier.
Here are some of the healthiest coffee drinks that we have found to be satisfying for all tastes.
Nonfat Mocha
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Mocha is not exactly as healthy as possible. It is packed with sugar and calories, especially if it has a whipped cream topping. However, if you’re going to drink a dessert-like coffee, go for a mocha, because it is less chemicalized than the syrups. The cocoa brings a few benefits as mentioned above. It’s also not too high in calories ( if a regular sized cup), and if you switch to a nonfat version, it will make your drink a healthier coffee.
Top Tip: Drink water to offset the diuretic effect of caffeine and to rehydrate your cells.
CaféAu Lait
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A café au lait, or as Starbucks people call it, a ‘misto,’ is simply half coffee, half milk. Don’t listen to the Netherlandians when they call it “koffie verkeerd” or ‘incorrect coffee. They are mistaken. Coffee is excellent with milk, especially with a drop of agave or a square of raw sugar.
Top Tip: Coffee is acidic, so offset the acid by eating more greens and other alkaline foods like fruit and vegetables.
Macchiato
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Originally meaning ‘marked,’ or ‘stained,’ a macchiato is an espresso with a ‘mark’ of milk foam (generally a tablespoon unless specified otherwise). This drink is low-calorie and great for those of us who love the taste of coffee for what it is and don’t try to hide it among other flavors.
Nonfat Cappuccino
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A cappuccino is an espresso-based drink generally made up of half milk, half foam. However, if you’re picky ask for a dry cap for more foam and less milk and a wet cap for more milk and less foam. Alternatively, ask for a latte with foam.
By switching your cappuccino to a nonfat version, it will help make your coffee healthier.
Top Tip: If you are having trouble sleeping avoid drinking coffee late in the day to help you sleep better at night.
Nonfat Latte
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A Latte is made up of espresso and steamed milk. Substitute the full-fat milk for nonfat milk to make it a healthier coffee option.
Top Tip: Don’t add flavor, even ‘skinny’ flavors to a coffee. These added flavors are full of chemicals that will contribute to the inefficiency of your organs, eventually destroying your flawless looks.
Apply these tips next time you make a cup of coffee to ensure that your coffee is as healthy as possible.
Are you thinking about buying a new espresso machine or updating an old model? Then read our guide to find out how to choose the best espresso machine and where to buy them.
