Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world and there are plenty of benefits to a cup of coffee. However, there are specific ways to preparing and consuming your coffee that can make it healthier for you. Besides the bulletproof coffee, here are 6 ways to make coffee healthier for you.
Drink your coffee black
You may have heard that the healthiest coffee drink is an all-black, and it is true. Black coffee, without any additional sugar or creamer, is the healthiest way to drink coffee. This is how you can get all the benefits of coffee, as well as its best flavour.
If you are making your coffee at home, try using organic coffee beans. Higher quality coffee beans can result in a better cup of coffee that can be healthier. You should also try using a paper filter when brewing using your coffee machine to reduce the amount of cafestol, a diterpene in brewed coffees that can raise cholesterol levels in the blood.
Measure the sugar, milk, or creamer before adding it to the cup
Some people are not fond of black coffee so if you still want to add some sugar or milk to your coffee, try limiting the amount that you use. You should only use at most a teaspoon of sugar per cup of coffee. If you are used to adding more sugar, recommendation is to try reducing the amount or your coffee will be more harmful than healthy.
The same goes for milk and creamers, so try lessening the amount that you add into your coffee. Many people eyeball the amount of milk and creamers that they add to their coffee. If you want to limit the amount that you use, measure out the milk or creamer before adding it into your coffee.
Try natural sweeteners and flavourings
You can also try using natural sweeteners and flavourings instead of artificial ones. You probably think that substituting sugar with an artificial sweetener would be better but that is not always the case. You may be able to reduce your sugar but these sweeteners could contain additives that are just as bad as excess sugar.
Natural sweeteners like stevia can be purchased at health food stores and they make a great substitute for sugar without any negative side effects. If you want to flavour your coffee drink, use natural flavourings like pure vanilla extract, instead of artificial ones like vanilla syrup. You can even make your flavourings from scratch to use when you make your coffees at home.
Add some cocoa or cinnamon
There is another way that you can add some flavouring to your coffee and increase its benefits. Adding pure cocoa powder such as Cadbury’s cocoa powder can help to increase the antioxidant level in your coffee. At the same time, you can enjoy a nice cup of coffee with an added chocolatey taste.
You can also try adding cinnamon powder to your coffee, which could also increase the health benefit of the coffee. Studies have shown that cinnamon can be good for diabetics since it can lower the levels of blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides. The best cinnamon to use if you want better results is the Ceylon cinnamon.
Limit your daily coffee intake
Coffee may be good for you but there is a limit to how many coffees you can consume in a day. Consuming excess amounts of caffeine in one day can lead to health issues like high blood pressure, insomnia, and heartburn. If you already suffer from these health problems, you should definitely avoid drinking too much coffee in a day.
Your daily caffeine intake should not exceed 200mg, which is equivalent to 2 cups of coffee. This means that your daily coffee limit should be 2 cups. You can always try decaffeinated coffee if you want the flavour of the coffee but do not want to go over your caffeine limit.
Do not drink coffee on an empty stomach
There are a lot of people who enjoy drinking their coffee on an empty stomach because they think it gives them a stronger and faster energy boost. However, it is actually not ideal to drink coffee on an empty stomach, especially if it is the first thing you consume in the day. The bitterness in the coffee can trigger your body to produce more stomach acid, which can cause heartburn and abdominal discomfort.
The best way to avoid all these issues is to drink your coffee during a meal or after you have had something to eat. You should also try to avoid drinking coffee too late into the day, like in the late afternoon, if you have a caffeine sensitivity. Since coffee is a stimulant, you may find it hard to get a good night’s rest if you have a cup of coffee so close to bedtime.
Coffee may have tons of health benefits but too much of a good thing can still be bad. These tips can help you to satisfy your coffee love without adding any risk to your health. Overall, it is best to limit your daily coffee intake as well as your sugar.
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