A Healthier Way to Enjoy Coffee
Carolina Sanchez
photo credit: uilltobe.ru
Coffee is not so bad if drank solo, but it is typically accompanied by a few supporting actors like sugar and dairy. The addition of these ingredients to coffee can quickly transform an average cup of joy into a vehicle for calories and fat, leading to blood sugar spikes and crashes, resulting in more coffee drinking throughout the day.
Furthermore, coffee is a natural source of caffeine, which is a stimulant (a type of drug) that wakes up the mind, making it a routine staple for morning stragglers. If you are a habitual coffee drinker and stray from that routine, it is possible you will experience headaches, which is the body’s way of indicating withdrawal from the caffeine.
Luckily, there are some healthier ways to enjoy this popular drink. Instead of filling your cup with milk and sugar, try using a dairy alternative like unsweetened almond milk and a natural sweetener like honey, maple syrup or date sugar. If you accustom yourself to drinking coffee without a sweetener, your taste buds will get used to it. If you do not like your coffee black, adding a touch of non-dairy milk helps cut back on the acidity. Make sure the non-dairy milk you choose does not have any added sugar; there are plenty of unsweetened options or you can always make your own.
Because coffee is acidic, many people fill their cup with milk, cream, sugar or a combination of all three to cut back on the bite, eliminating any of coffee’s potential health benefits. However, cold brew coffee is a less acidic option, which has been brewed with room temperature or cold water. It is now widely available at coffee shops or you can make your own. Whichever way you choose, limiting your coffee consumption can help cut back on caffeine cravings. Make sure to get a good night’s rest to avoid using caffeine as a pick-me-up. Eating a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables will also help keep your energy levels up.