If you love your morning coffee, you might be surprised to find out that it offers some actual health benefits. And by simply adding these 3 all-natural ingredients to your brew, you will not only have more energy, but you will also drop several extra pounds.
Coffee is actually quite healthy
Coffee is able to perk you up and even kick-start your entire system every morning. Here’s another great reason to sip a cup of java every day. That steaming cup of brew is the number 1 source of antioxidants in the American diet, according to the study by the University of Scranton. “The American citizens get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source,” confirms the study leader Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at the university. And whether you are drinking unleaded or leaded, both versions of coffee seem to provide similar antioxidant levels.
Antioxidants are related to numerous potential health benefits, including the protection against heart disease and cancer. And while the study team analyzed the antioxidant content of over 100 different foods including fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts, oils and common beverages, coffee came out on top for both frequency of consumption and antioxidants per serving size. But that is not all. A single cup of coffee also contains important vitamins:
– Riboflavin (vitamin B2): 11 % of the RDA
– Magnesium and niacin (B3): 2 % of the RDA
– Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5): 6 % of the RDA
– Manganese and potassium: 3 % of the RDA
Coffee can even lower the risk of developing diabetes. Studies suggest that the coffee drinkers have a significantly reduced risk of developing the diabetes type 2. Interestingly, persons who drink the most coffee have 23 – 50 % lower risk of getting this disease. A study shows a reduction as high as 67 %. Furthermore, a study published in the European Journal of Neurology suggests that coffee can even decrease the risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease by an amazing 65 %!
The coffee cure for excess weight
Do you know that caffeine is found in many commercial fat burning supplements? Caffeine is one of the few natural substances that has actually been proven to assist the fat burning process. In fact, the caffeinated coffee boosts your metabolism and it helps increase the rate at which your body burns more calories.
There was a study published in the American Journal Clinical Nutrition which set out to investigate the effects of coffee on the metabolic rate. The researchers found that the caffeinated coffee stimulates the metabolism in both normal weight and obese individuals. However, when it came to the normal weight subjects, it seems that there was an even greater fat loss.
But here are some even better news. Now you can boost your metabolism and your energy even further by adding these 3 ingredients to your morning brew: cinnamon, Coconut oil and raw honey. And if you are wondering how this blend is going to taste in your favorite organic coffee, we’ll tell you – it tastes great!
- Organic coconut oil
When it comes to oil and fat — what is healthy and what isn’t — science has greatly changed its opinion over the past several decades. Coconut oil has garnered much interest, becoming one of the most popular superfoods that are recommended for raw and cooked consumption.
Of course, coconut oil is fat, but it is the healthier version. While most of the other fats contain long-chain fatty acids, the coconut oil is comprised almost entirely of medium-chain fatty acids that metabolize differently. Medium-chain fatty acids are sent to the liver by the digestive system where they are either converted to ketone bodies or energy. There are also a few studies that have observed metabolic changes and fat loss in response to medium-chain triglycerides, which make up about 65 % of coconut oil. Researchers found medium-chain triglycerides to increase the metabolism, reduce appetite and calorie intake and promote the fat loss.
And so, adding coconut oil to your morning coffee could be very beneficial for shedding the excess weight. In a Malaysian study, researchers found that coconut oil decreases body fat and waist circumference without having to intentionally reduce the calories. In another Brazilian study which compared calorie-restricted diets, researchers noted a decreased abdominal fat in persons who consumed coconut oil. The bottom line is that coconut oil is natural thermogenic, which means it increases your basal metabolic rate and energy. The result is more efficient, and fat-burning cup of coffee.
- Raw honey
Similar as the processed sugar, honey is sweet. But not like the processed sugar, it is a natural sweetener that is rich in vitamin B6, folate, vitamin C, riboflavin and niacin. It also contains many minerals including sodium, iron, calcium, zinc, phosphorus and potassium. Eating honey could also help increase the levels of the “good” cholesterol in the body and reduce the cardiovascular strain, as it was stated in a research published in The Scientific World Journal. When compared to sucrose and dextrose, honey also lowers the blood-sugar elevation in diabetics.
So, what happens when you add honey to the coffee? Normally, the fat remains as an unused resource in the body, adding weight and bulk. But it’s believed that honey can activate this stored fat to provide energy for your daily activities. This means you can lead a more healthy, and active life, which will further promote weight loss. For best results, you better use raw honey.
- Cinnamon
Cinnamon is abundant in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties which help to fight infections and inflammation in the body. It also lowers the blood sugar levels in the body to help keep you fell full for longer, which helps in weight reduction.
Cinnamon boosts your metabolism and helps prevent the accumulation of fat in the body by supporting the conversion of sugar in energy. There are 2 types of cinnamon —cassia and ceylon. But which one is better? While both types are coming from the inner bark of the cinnamomum tree, cassia is typically darker and it has a much more pungent flavor. On the other hand, Ceylon is considered to be finer and more delicate thanks to its sweeter taste. Although the 2 are similar, they have some very distinct differences which could impact your health.
Cassia cinnamon is among the largest sources of coumarin, known to be toxin and able to affect the liver. It’s also a potential carcinogenic. Ceylon cinnamon does not contain coumarin as well or it contains such trace amounts that it’s undetectable. Therefore, the best choice is always ceylon cinnamon.
Recipe for success
Here is how you can incorporate these 3 natural ingredients into your morning coffee in order to boost your metabolism. Just remember to keep it black:
Ingredients that you need:
-1 teaspoon of cinnamon
-1/2 cup of raw honey
-3/4 cup of coconut oil
Instructions for preparation:
- Mix well all ingredients until smooth. Store it in some covered container.
- Every morning when you pour a fresh cup of coffee, stir 1 – 2 teaspoons of the prepared mixture into your favorite black coffee while it’s still hot. Enjoy!
