If you’re one of the millions of people who can’t function without a hit of caffeine at the breakfast table, you should know that you don’t have to give it up to live a healthier lifestyle. You just need to make a few swaps and change a few habits. If you’re looking for a better, more nutritious cup of coffee, here are seven tips for tomorrow morning.
1. Use Real Cream
Artificial coffee creamers are loaded with things like sugar, trans fats and high-fructose corn syrups. If you need the taste of cream in your coffee but hate the health risks that come with it, consider switching to the real deal. Organic, full-fat dairy products are natural sources of calcium and vitamin K2, and they’ve even been linked to weight loss in certain studies and research groups. This is because of their fat-busting CLAs (conjugated linoleic acids).
2. Filter Your Water
When you think about it, coffee is really just intensely flavored water. If you can improve the quality of the H2O going into your coffee maker, you can improve every cup. Look for a water filter that will sift out impurities like chlorine, mercury, zinc, cadmium and copper, and if necessary, buy an extra one for the office sink. It’s no use having refined coffee at home but toxic sludge at your cubicle.
3. Don’t Add Sugar
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends limiting your daily sugar intake to 25 grams or less. A grande caramel mocha from Starbucks has 47 grams without whipped cream! If you’re serious about improving the health score of your coffee order, you’ll need to find a new way to sweeten your coffee. Artificial sweeteners are one possibility, though they’re really just band-aids for the overall problem. A pinch of cinnamon might do the trick, and so might a small teaspoon of cocoa. Going on a full sugar detox can help you resist temptation, too.
4. Crack Open a Coconut
Coconut oil has many health benefits, including lowering your cholesterol and decreasing your risk of heart disease. It’s also a source of medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) that can assist with slimming down your waistline. MCTs hit your bloodstream and give you an immediate burst of energy, so they’re great for sluggish mornings when you just can’t seem to find your motivation for the day ahead. Put a spoonful of coconut oil in your coffee and remember everything that you have planned.
5. Invest In A High-Quality Coffee Maker
Cheap coffee makers are more than just eyesores; they’re also robbing you of the health benefits found in sleeker machines with more customization options. For example, there are coffee makers out there with self-rinsing cycles that will keep grime and calcium deposits from filtering through your brew. There are also machines that can be programmed with specific temperature and grind settings to create the ideal cup.
6. Buy Special Butter
Grass-fed butter may sound like an organic craze, but it’s actually a fantastic weapon in your battle for better health. Not only is it loaded with the good kind of fatty acids, but it will also reduce inflammation, promote cardiovascular health, encourage better arterial flow and decrease your risk of conditions like osteoporosis. Just make sure that the butter is grass-fed. This is how it distinguishes itself from the unhealthy butter out there.
7. Look for Coffee Alternatives
You don’t have to give up your morning cup of joe to improve your health. You just have to tweak the ingredient list a little. For example, a “red espresso” is made with Rooibos tea that can be ground in your coffee maker just like regular beans. There are also herbal coffees and tea-coffee hybrids that can lower your calorie count without denying you the caffeine rush that you need. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to your coffee.
These are just seven ways to wring health benefits out of your morning cup of java. When you avoid the fats, sugars and excessive amounts of caffeine, coffee is actually no worse for you than other indulgences. As long as you enjoy it in moderation, there’s nothing wrong with using it as physical and psychological fuel.
Dennies John is the founder of DrippedCoffee who is a coffee geek and love to share what he know about this field. When he is not brewing coffee, you can see him cycling or swimming. You can also follow him on Twitter.