6 Ways to Make a Super-Healthy Cup of Coffee
Coffee is one of the world’s most beloved beverages. On its own, coffee is loaded with antioxidants that support health and reduce disease risk. However, many people pack their coffee with cream and sugar, lowering its benefits. Find out the top six ways to take your cup of coffee to the next level.
1. Skip the Sugar
The best way to ruin a healthy cup of coffee is by adding heaps of sugar into it. If you simply cannot stomach the taste of black coffee, try gradually weaning yourself off sugar by reducing the amount you add each day. Or, try switching to a natural sugar-free alternative, like Stevia.
2. Choose Organic
Non-organic coffee beans are often sprayed with synthetic pesticides and other chemicals. While the jury is still out on whether or not pesticide intake affects human health, many people opt for organic when it’s something they consume every day, like coffee. Plus, organic coffee may contain more antioxidants than non-organic.
3. Go For Fair Trade
Moving away from health benefits, fair trade coffee is the better choice if you consider the social and environmental impacts of how you get your cup of joe. Fair-trade coffee benefits everyone in the supply chain, including paying fair wages to the workers and communities who farmed the coffee beans.
4. Limit Your Intake
While moderate amounts of coffee provide health benefits, drinking too much coffee is not great for us. While everyone tolerates caffeine differently, maxing out at two or three cups per day seems to be the sweet spot. Too much coffee can cause sleep disturbances, high blood pressure, and heart abnormalities.
5. Add Some Cinnamon
Not only does cinnamon pair perfectly with the flavor of coffee, but the spice is also loaded with antioxidants and linked to lower blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
6. Choose Natural Over Artificial Creamers
If you like your coffee more tan than black, opt for creamers made of natural ingredients instead of artificial, like those made with just milk and cream. Plus, full-fat creamers can provide more satiety, vitamins, and minerals than a non-dairy and artificially sweetened creamer.
1. Skip the Sugar
The best way to ruin a healthy cup of coffee is by adding heaps of sugar into it. If you simply cannot stomach the taste of black coffee, try gradually weaning yourself off sugar by reducing the amount you add each day. Or, try switching to a natural sugar-free alternative, like Stevia.
2. Choose Organic
Non-organic coffee beans are often sprayed with synthetic pesticides and other chemicals. While the jury is still out on whether or not pesticide intake affects human health, many people opt for organic when it’s something they consume every day, like coffee. Plus, organic coffee may contain more antioxidants than non-organic.
3. Go For Fair Trade
Moving away from health benefits, fair trade coffee is the better choice if you consider the social and environmental impacts of how you get your cup of joe. Fair-trade coffee benefits everyone in the supply chain, including paying fair wages to the workers and communities who farmed the coffee beans.
4. Limit Your Intake
While moderate amounts of coffee provide health benefits, drinking too much coffee is not great for us. While everyone tolerates caffeine differently, maxing out at two or three cups per day seems to be the sweet spot. Too much coffee can cause sleep disturbances, high blood pressure, and heart abnormalities.
5. Add Some Cinnamon
Not only does cinnamon pair perfectly with the flavor of coffee, but the spice is also loaded with antioxidants and linked to lower blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
6. Choose Natural Over Artificial Creamers
If you like your coffee more tan than black, opt for creamers made of natural ingredients instead of artificial, like those made with just milk and cream. Plus, full-fat creamers can provide more satiety, vitamins, and minerals than a non-dairy and artificially sweetened creamer.