Coffee...The Good, The Bad...The Ugly
Anyone else enjoy a good morning cup of joe?
I know I do! There is nothing I like better than waking up, making a morning brew, and curling up beside my fire while I slowly sip the liquid black gold!
But…Is that morning cuppa doing more harm than good?
Whether or not coffee is actually good for you has been debated for years now! Originally coffee beans were used in herbal medicine to help ease a number of alignments and disorders including; PMS, depression, and to help increase stamina/endurance for short periods of time.
And while consuming coffee is never a one size fits all for everyone there are some pro’s and con’s about this drink that can help you to make your own decision about how you feel.
Let’s start with the pro’s!
It’s high in antioxidants.
Can improve mental functioning and memory.
Increases endurance, and stamina positively affecting physical performance
Protects against neurodegenerative diseases/illnesses.
Can aid in weight loss.
May increase mood.
Can ease menstrual cramps and headaches.
Now the con’s…
Can cause leaky gut, food sensitivities, or gut bacteria disturbances.
Some find it worsens anxiety and depression symptoms.
Can worsen insomnia and interfere with regular sleep patterns.
May worsen adrenal fatigue or other hormone imbalances.
May contain unwanted toxins and mold from improper processing and industrial agriculture.
Interferes with blood sugar balance.
It can cause loss of electrolytes and dehydration.
It’s often abused and over used.
So is coffee a good thing or a bad thing???
Well simply put…it is neither good or bad! It is simply a decision that needs to be made based on what is going on mentally, physically, and emotionally with you. But no matter what your decision is, most of us do need to re-evaluate our relationship with caffeine. So how do we do that?
Use it at appropriate times. Do not drink coffee after 4pm! As discussed drinking caffeine after 4pm can interfere with your sleeping patterns. I also recommend to try to only drink coffee in the mornings or right before a workout to boost endurance, fat loss, and performance. Drinking coffee at these times also will mimic our natural cortisol rhythm instead of throwing it off.
Hydrate. Even if you are only having one cup of coffee a day make sure that you are still taking in extra hydration! Make sure to drink between 2.5 to 3.5 litres of water a day, or MORE if you are active. This will ensure that you are keeping hydrated and your electrolyte levels are more balanced.
Bulletproof it. Adding a fat to your coffee can actually make it easier on your system as it slows down the absorption rate which will lead to a slow steady increase in mental/physical functioning instead of a sudden spike and then drop. To do this simply blend 1 tbsp of MCT oil, coconut oil, or ghee with your morning brew in a blender!
Choose the right brew for you. There are many types of coffee out there and all have different levels of caffeine. Typically dark roast has less caffeine than a light roast, and espresso has even less caffeine! It is also important that when you are choosing a bean for at home brewing that you choose a fair trade, one plantation, organic, whole bean to grind at home yourself. These types have the least amount of toxins and mold so that you can get the most out of your antioxidant drink!
Evaluate what you are putting in your coffee. Instead of loading up on the sugar and milk/cream opt for dairy free milks, and more natural sweeteners like honey or stevia!
Limit yourself. Everyone’s tolerance for caffeine is different but for most people anything more than one 12 oz coffee per day is too much. I know I used to think I could handle more until I TRULY started to tune in and realized my body was trying to tell me different! Try limiting yourself to one a day if you are a daily coffee drinker, or even just drinking it on special occasions like; brunch with friends/family, days where you are extra exhausted, and rainy fireplace book reading days.
Looking to limit your caffeine intake but still want to enjoy a tasty, frothy cup of something hot? Why not try a herbal superfood latte like this Dandelion Chaga Latte featured bellow! The chaga mushroom works as an adaptogen to help our body combat stress and increase energy. And the dandelion gives this cuppa an earthy, coffee like taste. PLUS did I mention it is totally caffeine free!
Dandelion Chaga Latte
Ingredients:
1 tsp dried Dandelion Root
1 tsp ground Chaga Mushroom
8 oz hot water
4 oz Oat Milk, or other dairy free alternative
1 tsp Maca
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tbsp Coconut Oil, MCT Oil or Collagen
Optional: 1 tsp Honey, or other natural sweetener.
How to:
Place dandelion and chaga in hot water and steep covered for 6-7 minutes.
Once brew is a deep brown colour strain the herbs from the liquid and place the liquid into a high speed blender with the oat milk, maca, coconut oil and vanilla. Blend on high for about 20 seconds or until frothy!
Pour into your favourite mug and sip away!
