Healthy Coffee, Healthy Year, Healthy You
For most, the beginning of a new year prompts resolve, ambition, and renewed dedication when it comes to health.
In fact, 70% of all New Year’s resolutions pertain to health and fitness, with exercise, healthy eating, and weight management taking the top three spots on the list.
Whether you prioritize health and fitness year round, or like many you found yourself slacking over the holidays and are ready to get back on track, coffee…yes, coffee…can make a big difference when it comes to achieving your health and fitness goals!
Consider the following:
- How do you take your coffee?
- What kind of coffee do you drink?
- How many cups of coffee do you enjoy each day?
- How you answer each of those questions can help, or hinder, your weight management efforts, your athletic performance, and your overall health!
Here we’ll fully examine what goes into your cup and discover how this beloved brew can best benefit your health.
Drinking Coffee For The Health Of it
Coffee possesses an abundance of health benefits.
Loaded with disease fighting antioxidants, caffeine, and other potent compounds, take a look at the following ways coffee can bring health to your body:
1 - Drinking Coffee Decreases The Risk Of Disease And Helps You Live Longer
Instead of giving a lengthy explanation here, let’s let the following coffee stats do the talking:
- Drinking two to three cups of coffee each day is linked to a longer lifespan and a reduced risk of multiple diseases.
- The risk of death from heart failure, stroke, coronary artery disease, kidney disease, cancer, and diabetes is decreased with the regular enjoyment of coffee.
- In otherwise healthy individuals, drinking coffee, decaf and regular, was found to lower the risk of premature death (compared to those who didn’t drink coffee).
- Drinking three cups of coffee daily is associated with a lowered risk of cognitive decline. And, drinking this amount of coffee, even a few added cups, is linked to improving cognitive performance.
- The caffeine component of coffee has been shown to slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease. While drinking 3-5 cups daily has been linked to an overall reduced risk of developing dementia or Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
- Drinking more than 2 cups of coffee daily is linked to reducing damage to the liver (from scarring). This same amount has also been proven to lower one’s overall risk of liver cancer. And, drinking 4 cups of coffee daily proved to lower the risk of liver disease by a whopping 71%
- Even one’s risk of depression is decreased by drinking coffee, with studies showing each cup of coffee enjoyed daily lowering the risk by 8%.
2 - Drinking Coffee Boosts Physical Performance
If physical fitness is your priority this new year, or every year, coffee can help you achieve this goal as you improve your health.
Due to its caffeine component, coffee makes a great pre-workout drink.
In men, caffeine has been shown to improve workouts by improving power, resulting in greater speed as well as a greater weight lifting capability.
One review of multiple studies (including men and women) found drinking coffee prior to exercise brought improvements in endurance while also decreasing participants' perception of exertion.
In other words, drinking coffee as a preworkout helped people to push harder for longer periods of time, making sweat sessions more productive.
3 - Drinking Coffee Aids in Weight Management
Obviously, a healthy lifestyle includes both good nutrition and physical activity.
Coffee’s benefit to physical performance can absolutely aid your weight management efforts, but even drinking coffee apart from exercise has value!
The caffeine content of coffee has been found to increase metabolic rate by nearly 11% when consumed in moderation.
And, some studies have even shown a link between drinking coffee and improved fat storage and gut health.
The gut (gastrointestinal tract) often plays a role in weight gain as an unhealthy gut can lead to poor digestion, high levels of inflammation, improper immune function, and poor metabolism.
So, with an unhealthy gut, your weight management efforts can feel like an uphill battle.
With coffee, as its antioxidant content improves the health of your gut, your ability to better manage your weight improves.
And, drinking regular coffee is also associated with a decrease in hormones that make you feel hungry (ghrelin), which is why coffee is often considered an appetite suppressant.
*But…yes, there’s a but to all these benefits…not every cup of coffee is the same.
So, how can you reap all these healthy rewards when enjoying your daily brew?
Keeping Your Cup Healthy
Making sure you’re drinking the healthiest cup of coffee doesn’t have to be complicated. But, there are definitely a few things to consider.
First, you need to be drinking clean coffee if you want to reap the above rewards. In fact, if you’re not drinking clean coffee, you could actually be hindering your health!
You see, not all coffee is the same.
We generally refer to this as the dark side of coffee.
This beloved brew is the second most consumed beverage in the world, only trailing water. And, because of its popularity, coffee has become a cash crop.
In order to keep up with demand, large sections of forests are cleared for coffee plantations where the plants are mass produced in the sun.
These less-than-ideal growing conditions then necessitate the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers to optimize growth.
On top of that, many companies also incorporate the use of blends, where lower quality coffee is mixed with other grades to cut costs.
So, when you consume coffee that is grown and sold in this manner, unfortunately you’re also ingesting a concentrated amount of pesticides, toxins, and even molds.
In contrast, because we highly value health, growing, harvesting, and processing Lifeboost coffee looks a bit different.
When drinking Lifeboost, the coffee in your cup is:
- Certified organic
- Naturally grown to be low acid
- Single origin
- Grown in the shade, providing a canopy for migrating North American birds which act as a natural pesticide negating the use of any chemicals
- Grown sustainably amongst native plants, negating the need for deforestation or use of chemical fertilizers
- 3rd party tested for mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, glyphosate, plus 450 other toxins to ensure you are getting the cleanest cup of coffee
But, drinking a truly clean and healthy cup of coffee doesn’t end with the bean.
Secondly, once you’ve got clean coffee in your cup, be sure to avoid loading your brew with unhealthy additives.
Three common additives people use in their coffee are creamers, artificial sweeteners, and flavored syrups.
Unfortunately, if you’re using any of these, you may be harming your health with each sip:
Coffee Creamer
Most conventional coffee creamers contain thickening agents such as carrageenan, gellan gum, and cellulose gum. Each of these are known to cause digestive problems, inflammation throughout the body, and may lead to cancer.
And, that only scratches the surface.
Coffee Creamers also contain artificial flavors, fillers, hydrogenated oils, emulsifying agents, and more, some of which are toxic, all of which have been linked to a myriad of health concerns.
Artificial Sweeteners
In an attempt to cut calories, many opt for artificial sweeteners to add a sugary element to their brew. But, these additions are just as their name states, artificial.
The most common artificial sweeteners have been linked to weight gain, brain tumors, bladder cancer, allergic reactions, and digestive distress.
Flavored Syrups
Flavored syrups often contain artificial flavors and their sugar content not only adds inches to your waistline when consumed regularly, but some even contain propylene glycol, which has toxic effects.
Other toxic ingredients in flavored syrups have been linked to changes in DNA, cognitive decline, weight gain, even diabetes and heart disease.
Healthy Coffee Additive Options
Instead of the above three additives, consider the following cup components, each of which possess their own healthy benefits:
- A splash of organic heavy whipping cream
- Plant milks
- Spices such as cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, turmeric, or ginger
- Natural sweeteners such as raw honey, pure maple syrup, stevia, or monk fruit
- Real fruit such as muddled strawberries or blueberries
- Unsweetened cocoa
- Pure vanilla extract
- Coconut oil, ghee, or grass-fed butter
These are just a few ingredients that can add both flavor and health to your cup of joe.
But, if you’re needing some ways to practically incorporate these suggestions, check out the following healthy coffee recipes where we’ll show you how to use these additions while also detailing the ways each ingredient can benefit your health.
Healthy Coffee Recipes
Each of the following recipes include a Lifeboost coffee selection combined with healthy additions to take your brew to the next level.
We’ll detail the health benefits of the other ingredients in each recipe, but to avoid being repetitive, we’ll give you all the healthy Lifeboost details right here.
What’s healthy about Lifeboost coffee?
Lifeboost coffee is low acid, single origin, shade and elevation grown, nutrient dense, mycotoxin free, organic coffee loaded with antioxidants to boost energy, improve liver, brain, and heart health, as well as lower your risk of depression and diabetes, while helping you manage your weight and increase your overall lifespan. Just to name a few!
Now for some delicious ways to enhance your Lifeboost cup of joe…
1. Cinnamon Cream Dream
What’s healthy about it (other than the Lifeboost coffee)?
Cinnamon and nutmeg: helps improve insulin sensitivity and stabilize blood sugar, improves heart health, and reduces inflammation
Coconut oil and grass-fed butter: contains healthy fats that improve mood, energy levels, and memory while stabilizing blood sugar
Ingredients
- 8 oz freshly brewed Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee
- 1 tablespoon grass-fed butter
- 1 teaspoon organic coconut oil
- ¼ teaspoon ceylon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Liquid stevia, to taste
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender, and blend on high for about 20 seconds until mixture is frothy.
- Pour into your favorite mug, and enjoy!
2. All Smooth, No Criminal
What’s healthy about this delicious smoothie (other than the Lifeboost coffee)?
Banana: nutrient dense, antioxidant-rich, satiating, great for weight loss, good for heart and digestive health, and may improve blood sugar levels
Greek Yogurt: boosts metabolism, lowers blood pressure, reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, improves bone and gut health, satiating, and may improve mental health
Cinnamon: helps improve insulin sensitivity and stabilize blood sugar, improves heart health, reduces inflammation
Honey: acts as a natural cough suppressant, improves heart and gut health, and may prevent memory disorders
Ingredients
- 8 oz cold brewed Lifeboost Light Roast Coffee
- 1 banana (sliced)
- 1 cup plain greek yogurt
- 2 teaspoons raw honey
- ½ teaspoon Ceylon cinnamon
- ice
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a blender and blend on high until smooth.
- Pour into a tall glass, and enjoy!
3. Turmeric Coffee Latte
Here’s where there’s a whole lotta health in this latte (other than the Lifeboost coffee):
Coconut milk: unsweetened varieties are antimicrobial, antifungal, anti inflammatory, and contain medium chain fatty acids, also may reduce stomach ulcers, and improve heart health
Vanilla: boosts brain health, contains antioxidants and anti inflammatory properties
Turmeric: may prevent cancer, lowers cholesterol, treats and prevents cognitive decline, relieves symptoms of depression, powerful antioxidant, and may reduce risk of heart disease
Ginger: anti inflammatory, antioxidant-rich, eases digestive discomfort including nausea, and reduces feelings of hunger
Cinnamon: helps improve insulin sensitivity, stabilizes blood sugar, improves heart health, and reduces inflammation
Ingredients
- 1 ounce (or 1 pulled shot) Lifeboost Organic Espresso Coffee
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons stevia
- ½ teaspoon ground turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Combine coconut milk, vanilla, stevia, turmeric, ginger, and cinnamon in a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until warm. (roughly 5 minutes)
- Remove from heat and froth with a hand frother, or add to an electric frother and froth ingredients.
- Pull one shot of espresso into a large mug, then top with frothed turmeric milk. Enjoy!
4. Healthy Peppermint Mocha
What’s in it for your health (besides tasty, clean Lifeboost coffee)?
Peppermint Extract: aids in gastrointestinal discomforts, may clear sinuses, has mild pain relief capabilities, antibacterial, fights fatigue, and contains powerful antioxidants
Heavy Whipping Cream: minimally processed, low lactose, keto-friendly, heart-healthy, helps to remove mineral deficiencies, improves vision and bone health, and boosts immune system
Pure Maple Syrup: full of healthy nutrients and antioxidants which combat oxidative stress and lower your risk of disease, fights inflammation, and may improve digestion (compared to regular sugar)
Cocoa Powder: cocoa powder contains anti inflammatory properties, and due to its antioxidant content, it may be beneficial in the treatment of allergies, some cancers, and insulin resistance, as well as helping to decrease anxiety
Ingredients
- 6 ounces freshly brewed Lifeboost Dark Roast Coffee
- 2-3 tablespoons heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon real peppermint extract
- 2 tablespoons homemade vegan chocolate syrup (see recipe below)
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to your favorite mug, stir thoroughly to combine. Enjoy!
- 2 Ingredient Vegan Chocolate Syrup
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- Add syrup and cocoa powder to a bowl and mix until well combined. Use immediately or store leftover syrup in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
5. Date’s On Ice
What’s healthy here, besides pure, clean, organic Lifeboost coffee?
Medjool dates: high antioxidant content makes them disease fighters, rich in fiber and potassium, provides satiety aiding in weight loss efforts, reduces risk of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers
Cashew milk: lactose free, heart healthy, may help with blood sugar control and healthy blood clotting, boosts immune health, and may prevent certain cancer cells from developing
Sea salt: in moderation, salt can provide pain relief from muscle cramps and arthritis, it relieves stress, helps with digestion, boosts your immune system, and may enhance heart health
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cold brewed Lifeboost Medium Roast Coffee
- 1-2 pitted medjool dates
- ¼ cup cold cashew milk
- One pinch of sea salt
Instructions
- Add dates and cashew milk to a high speed blender and blend on high until completely smooth.
- Pour cold brew into a glass, add a pinch of sea salt, and top with blended date-cashew milk mixture.
- Stir gently to combine, and enjoy!
Check out Lifeboost Coffee Grata Medium Roast.
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of such advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither Dr. Charles Livingston nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.
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