Start your day with a boost.
Do you frequently forget to take your vitamins in the morning? Most of us do, but very few of us ever forget that first cuppa java in the morning. In fact, many can’t start their days until they’ve had that first cup.
So why not combine these two by adding a teaspoon of something extra to your morning caffeine fix to offer a healthy dose of vitamins, antioxidants, and nutritional advantages? Yes, you read that right: make a special vitamin coffee by incorporating one of these six extras. There are numerous advantages, like raising your mood and energy levels, defending your heart, and even improving your sexual life.
A sprinkle of cinnamon for heart health
A substantial (as well as tasty) dosage of antioxidants can be delivered by simply sprinkling your morning cuppa with some cinnamon. Since ancient times, cinnamon has been used both as a spice and a medicine, as it has one of the greatest antioxidant activities among spices and is packed with beneficial components (all 41 of them).
Cinnamon may also provide additional protection for your heart and brain, according to a study conducted on mice. In a study using human cells, it was found that it could also reduce the risk of developing cancer and boost the immune system.
So stir a half teaspoon of cinnamon into your cuppa, or if you do it the brewing way, just add a teaspoon of cinnamon right into the grounds.
Tip: Look for Ceylon cinnamon, also known as “true” cinnamon. Although Ceylon cinnamon may be slightly more challenging to find and a bit more expensive, it’s of higher quality than its more commonly found Cassia cinnamon sibling. Ceylon cinnamon is safer to consume on a regular basis compared to Cassia cinnamon, which contains a higher quantity of the plant compound coumarin, which is considered unsafe to consume in large amounts.
Ginger up your java to ease muscle pain
Only consuming Ginger in the bread version? You’re missing out on a ton of this spice’s health benefits, and the easiest way to change that is to sprinkle some into your coffee for a slightly spice, aromatic cuppa.
Ginger has been commonly used as a treatment for nausea for centuries, but it also contains potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. Ginger can reduce muscle pain, lower cholesterol, and aid in digestion.
So add a teaspoon of ginger directly to your coffee, or ditch the calorie- and sugar-laden coffeeshop version and make yourself a healthy pumpkin spice latte at home.
Tip: Finely grate that left-over ginger from stir-fry night using a microplane, and then freeze it in individual teaspoon-size servings ready to stir into your java.
Boost your health shield with mushrooms
Mushrooms and coffee… Just hear this out: a fungus-filled brew can have some surprising benefits for our health. Mushrooms have antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immune-boosting qualities. Loaded with antioxidants, mushrooms have anticancer effects on mice, and other studies on mice suggest mushrooms may prevent liver disease and may also aid in digestion due to their powerful prebiotics.
Popular mushroom coffee brand Four Sigmatic suggests that drinking mushroom coffee is beneficial for our bodies, filled with superfoods, and has only half the caffeine. “You also skip the jitters, stomach issues, and post-caffeine crash that normal coffee gives most” they say.
You can purchase your own mushroom powders (which will indicate serving size) or buy conveniently packaged mushroom coffee and even mushroom coffee K-Cup pods.
Tip: Not all mushroom coffees are created equal though. So if you’re looking for more energy, try a Cordyceps mushroom blend, or for stress and sleep aid, reach for a Reishi mushroom blend.
Add some turmeric to aid your digestion
Turmeric latte will be nothing new if you are a frequent reader of health blogs like this one. This earthy, golden spice is rather popular, and for good reason. Many of its medicinal benefits arise from the compound curcumin, which has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This anti-oxidant powerhouse supports liver detoxification, aids in digestion, and may even help treat depression.
Give this 4-Ingredient Awakening Coffee with Turmeric, Coconut Oil, and Coconut Milk a try.
Tip: To boost turmeric’s health benefits, pair it with a pinch of black pepper. The pepper improves the bioavailability in the turmeric, making it much more effective in small doses.
Maca those hormones
Ever seen maca powder on the shelves at your local health store? It’s made from the maca root plant, has been traditionally used to enhance fertility, and has shown to have hormone-balancing effects in a study on rats. This adaptogenic herb has also been studied to increase athletic performance, helps the body manage stress, help with depression, increase energy levels, help with symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, benefit your bones, boost libido and help with male fertility.
Maca contains over 20 amino acids (including 8 essential amino acids), 20 free-form fatty acids, and is high in protein and vitamin C.
For optimal maca health benefits, it is recommended to have between 1 and 3 teaspoons of it a day, so try making this superfood coffee, as in addition to maca powder, it contains 4 other items on this list.
Tip: To extend the shelf life of maca powder, store it in the fridge.
Sweeten with some antidepressive cacao
Chocolate and coffee sounds like a match made in heaven to many, but when we look at the health benefits of raw cacao, it gets even better. Cacao is one of the most powerful antioxidants around, the highest plant-based sources of iron, and it’s good for the heart.
Anti-inflammatory cacao lowers blood pressure, increases HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol), and lowers LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol). Its cognitive benefits, mood-enhancing, and antidepressive qualities make it great for the brain too.
And lets not forget to mention it’s delicious.
So for the world’s healthiest mocca, simply stir 1 tablespoon of raw cacao into that cup of coffee for a boost in dietary fibre, antioxidants, and magnesium.
Tip: Search for organic raw cacao to get the most benefits, and learn the difference between raw cacao and cocoa powder.
Since most people are encouraged to limit their coffee consumption, it just makes sense to make the most of each cuppa.
Fun Facts about the name “Java”
Many different names are used to refer to coffee, such as java, joe, dirt, mud, brew, cuppa, daily grind, lifeblood, tar, rocket fuel, and even worm dirt. Some of the terms, like “drip” and “espresso,” describe how coffee is made. Others, like “mocha” and “cappuccino,” refer to a particular coffee-based beverage. Others refer to the history and origins of coffee. This final category includes “Java”.
Java is not a particular brand of coffee or a method of brewing it; rather, the phrase is derived from the Island Java in coffee’s history.
Early in the 17th century, the Dutch sneaked the coffee plant from the Arab world and began growing it in Southeast Asian countries like Bali and Sumatra, where it is still produced today. Java was an additional island where they started growing coffee, and it is from this island that the word “java” originated.
After this expansion, coffee was exported from Java to the rest of the world as a significant trade commodity. The Dutch were probably the first to adopt the name, and although the exact origin of the phrase is unknown, it’s possible that they used it to describe single-origin coffee from Java. Coffee is being traded all over the world, and the term “java” is now used to refer to all kinds of coffee rather than just coffee from the Island of Java.
Today, coffee is still cultivated on Java, and much of the island’s arabica production comes from estates that were originally built by the Dutch.
The term “Java” in the field of computer programming is also fascinating.
Munchies4U does not provide professional dietary advice. If you or someone you care for has special dietary requirements, medical needs or an eating disorder, please seek advice from a registered healthcare professional.
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