Healthier Ways to Drink Coffee

Different people have different opinions in favor and against the consumption of coffee, an internationally known beverage. Some say that it’s bad for your health, while others say it provides many natural benefits. However, that all depends on several factors, such as how many cups you drink per day, the caffeine content and whether or not you’re using coffee to increase your work production. Learn more about healthier ways to drink coffee in the following article.

What should you know about coffee?

You’ve surely read a lot about this dark beverage with such a particular and deep smell. It is responsible for getting people together, allowing them to study late into the night, or enjoy a movie on a chilly evening.

However, you should always keep in mind that coffee has caffeine, a component that stimulates the central nervous system, thus reducing fatigue and tiredness. This might seem great for people with high-pressure jobs or very stressful professions, but, in truth, the medium and long-term effects of caffeine are not at all good for you.

Coffee increases your heart rate, irritates your stomach lining, and makes you feel more awake or alert. It also decreases your appetite and, according to some research, makes it easier for you to study and remember certain information

In general, moderate coffee consumption (up to five cups per week) does not present any serious negative consequences for the body. Excessive coffee drinkers tend to develop a greater tolerance to coffee’s alkaloids, just like any other medication. That’s why someone who drinks two or more cups of coffee per day is much less affected by this beverage than someone who is not used to drinking it.

If, in addition to drinking coffee, you smoke, fail to do exercise, eat lots of fast food and have a sedentary lifestyle, you are more likely to suffer serious health consequences, not just because of this beverage, but because of a combination of risk factors.

It is also worth noting that patients with anemia or people who consume an entirely vegetarian or vegan diet should not drink as much coffee because, just like tea, it keeps the body from absorbing as much iron. Other foods that can have the same effect are chocolate and cola soft drinks. Coffee can also reduce your calcium absorption, which is why we don’t recommend this beverage for people with osteoporosis or broken bones or teeth.

Healthier ways to drink coffee

Do you feel like you’re addicted to coffee and you need more and more of this drink in order to stay away and alert? Do you drink more than four cups per day, as black and strong as possible? Do you have any of the other risk factors that we listed above? If so, you should pay special attention to these tips and healthier ways to drink coffee.

• Avoid adding milk, cream or too much sugar to your coffee. Instead, opt for a few drops of skim milk, stevia or raw sugar. This will lower your calorie intake.
• Do not replace your breakfast with several cups of coffee as a way of “fooling” your stomach. Your body needs fuel in order to get going each day, and that comes from fruits, cereals and dairy products.
• If you are well hydrated (with water, natural fruits and herbal teas), you will feel less tired and stressed and, therefore, won’t feel the need to drink coffee so often

You should also make sure to get enough rest so that you can stop drinking so much coffee. If you’ve been feeling very anxious or irritable lately, or have been in a bad mood or experiencing insomnia, this beverage may be having a negative effect on you.

Replace coffee with natural teas or with decaffeinated coffee. These beverages will have a much more positive effect on you, leaving you calm and relaxed.

If you suffer from hypertension, cardiovascular disease, renal problems, anemia, obesity or are pregnant, we recommend avoiding consuming coffee or reducing your consumption to the lowest level possible.

Do not drink coffee with anti-depression medications or cigarettes, because these combinations can cause strong headaches, high blood pressure and migraines.

Go for organic coffee. It might be a bit more expensive than the regular product you get at the supermarket, and you may have to go to a specific store, but the difference between this natural version and the industrial version of coffee is huge. Organic coffee is not treated with pesticides or herbicides, meaning it’s much better for health. Even more, organic coffee beans are bigger and yield more of the actual beverage, so you’ll be helping out the environment, as well

Choose dark, toasted coffee beans. These beans have a higher level of antioxidants in comparison with regular toasted beans. They are a bit stronger than traditional coffee beans, but you can just use a bit less to make your cup of this beverage.

Invest in a coffee maker. That way, you will get the most out of the beans you’ve purchased, save money and avoid waste. Use distilled water to make your coffee to avoid adding any chemicals. You can also buy a coffee grinder to grind the beans yourself.

Choose green coffee. This version of coffee has gained a lot of popularity lately because, according to experts on the topic, it has properties for weight loss. This type of coffee is not a different plant; it comes from the same beans, but ones that haven’t been toasted and still have their original green color. These beans are great at getting rid of fat, reducing the amount of free radicals in your body and decreasing the appearance of cellulite. Plus, they make you feel full, help control type II diabetes and offer more “natural” energy.