For a lot of us, the work day starts way too early in the morning, making coffee even more essential to boosting our energy. Research shows that close to three in four Americans (73%) drink coffee every day and most of them aren’t stopping with one cup, with 36% drinking three to five cups daily. Depending on how you take yours, it may already be pretty good for you, but if you want to bump up the health benefits, here’s what nutrition experts recommend.
- Start with high-quality, chemical-free coffee - Here’s the thing, commercial coffee is one of the most chemically treated food crops and it’s often grown with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. But that doesn’t mean buying a bag of organic beans is always enough. Registered dietitian Isabel Smith points out that what’s organic in one place may not be somewhere else, so she advises looking at how the beans are sourced and going with single-origin coffee.
- Add some cacao to your cup - We’re not talking about cocoa, but cacao, which is made from raw beans and loaded with mood-boosting and cognition-supporting flavanols, antioxidants and minerals, like magnesium and iron. Cacao is unsweetened, but brings a little chocolatey richness to coffee and registered dietitian Lona Sandon shares that studies have found regularly using it is linked to a lower risk of cognitive disorders like dementia.
- Sprinkle in some cinnamon - This spice not only tastes good, it’s a helpful anti-inflammatory that can improve heart health and balance blood sugar, too.
- Tap in some turmeric - It may sound surprising to add this spice to coffee, but turmeric can help reduce inflammation and protect heart health, and it’s better absorbed with a little fat, like from milk.
- Get some good fats in - “Adding a bit of protein and fat to your coffee can bring a little more energetic balance to it,” Smith explains. The fat helps slow down caffeine absorption so you don’t get energy spikes and crashes.
Source: Yahoo