Some of us approach our morning cuppa java like a sacred ritual. There really is something special about the smell, the taste, the feel of that blessed brew. Coffee’s magic comes from a wide variety of medicinal constituents that work synergistically together on your biology. There are reports that coffee is bad for us, and I have some patients that should not drink it, but for most, it has some significant health benefits.
Coffee contains over 600 compounds. It is a rich source of antioxidants and is the number one source of dietary antioxidants for most Americans eating the Standard American Diet (SAD). It has a wide array of phenols, diterpenes, and boasts an impressive mineral complex, including potassium, magnesium, and niacin. Therefore, these nutrients make drinking your morning cup an important part of your healthy lifestyle.
Many studies have found that there are tremendous benefits to drinking coffee.
Researchers have found that drinking coffee significantly lowers the risk of type 2 diabetes. In fact, the more you drink, the lower your risk of developing this disease. It is thought that it enhances the functioning of the beta cells of the pancreas, improves insulin sensitivity, and helps carbohydrate metabolism.
Drinking coffee reduces the risk of developing certain cancers. These protective benefits are associated with prostate, liver, colon, and endometrial cancers.
While caffeine can temporarily raise blood pressure, the effects are transient. Overall coffee supports cardiovascular health by reducing the risk of stroke.
Coffee can increase mental alertness and memory recall, lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and can even play a role in the prevention of depression.
Some of the constituents in coffee help with fat loss in that they are thermogenic and aid with fat mobilization and oxidation.
Overall, your morning cup fits perfectly into a healthy lifestyle.
My recommendations:
- Drink 1-3 cups of a high quality coffee every day.
- Boiled coffee (french press or Turkish) is more protective than paper filtered (especially if you use bleached filters)
- Add only whole food ingredients to your coffee and skip the Creamer and artificial sweeteners. Artificial ingredients will completely negate all of the wonderful benefits of this superfood.
- Instead, try adding milk or cream from grass-fed cows, a tablespoon of grass-fed butter (blended in your coffee is delicious!), and Stevia, Xylitol, or Swerve if you need it a little sweet.
- Enjoy your daily dose of delicious prevention!
