Tag: Optimal Health

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4 Coffee-Enhancing Hacks To Give Your Brew Optimal Health Perks

Roughly two-thirds of Americans drink coffee every day. Black coffee is naturally rich in antioxidants, but there are ways to make it even better. Check out these four popular tips for supercharging your java.

1. Less Sugar & More Spice Makes Everything Nice

Instead of sugar, add tantalizing spices to your coffee. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and other pumpkin pie spices are incredible. Not only do they give your coffee a relaxing aroma, but they can also provide huge antioxidant benefits:

  • Reducing chronic inflammation
  • Alleviating pain
  • Lowering cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure
  • Lowering the risk of heart problems
  • Improving blood sugar control for type-2 diabetes
  • Supporting brain health
  • Reducing the risk of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease (possibly)

Buying that sugary “pumpkin pie latte” at the big coffee chain? Yeah, not the greatest idea. But, making your own at home without all the sugar? Bring it on!

2. Butter Is Better (Sometimes)

No one is sure who created the first cup of butter coffee. Some African and Asian cultures have prepared similar drinks for thousands of years. However this tasty coffee came into existence, and the world is a better place because of it.

Many recipes for modern butter coffee use coconut oil and grass-fed butter. Coconut oil has a healthier fat called medium-chain triglycerides. MCTs make it easier for your body to kickstart fat-burning mode.

If you’re following the keto diet, these positive fats are a good thing because they provide a burst of energy and help you avoid the “keto flu.” Butter coffee can also be an empowering alternative to skipping breakfast when you’re running late. That said, this drink has a lot of calories, so it’s not a replacement for a good breakfast.

3. Mocha Can Be Marvelous

This is another story of coffee shop=bad but homemade=awesome. When you make mocha yourself, you can choose unsweetened cocoa powder, which is where the antioxidants are. Far from being unhealthy, unprocessed cocoa offers significant benefits:

  • Mental performance and focus
  • Mood and well-being
  • Stress relief
  • Heart health
  • Blood pressure and blood sugar
  • Inflammation

If you want to give your mocha some sweetness without going overboard, try some stevia or a little honey. You may discover that you prefer the unsweetened or lightly sweetened version of mocha better than the coffee-shop sugar bombs.

4. Turmeric Coffee Is Golden

Not all golden lattes contain coffee, but you can add your favorite brew for extra energy and antioxidants. This Indian drink is big on turmeric, which is what gives it the famous golden color. You also need milk or cream. Plant-based milk, such as almond milk, works just fine.

Turmeric is one of the healthiest super-spices out there. It contains a potent antioxidant called curcumin that does wonders for inflammation. If you can take away inflammation naturally, you can potentially improve your life:

  • Joint pain and stiffness
  • Brain fog
  • Memory issues
  • Depression
  • Metabolism
  • Auto-immune problems

Pro tip: To absorb curcumin effectively, you need a source of fat and a touch of black pepper. When you make golden coffee, always add a dash of pepper and some milk.

The Preferred Pick-You-Up

Green tea also rocks tremendous antioxidants, but it’s just not everyone’s cup of … tea. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a few cups of antioxidant-rich coffee every day. Use these ideas to spice things up, literally!