How to Make Your Coffee a Healthier Drink
February 20, 2020
If you’re like me, your morning probably incudes one or several cups of hot coffee to get the day going. I can’t think of a better way to spend my morning than with my favorite hot beverage. But, depending on how you drink your coffee, it not might be the healthiest choice you can make.
If you enjoy drinking your coffee black with no added milk, cream, flavoring or sweeteners, then you are probably already having a healthy cup of coffee. But, if you take your coffee light and sweet, I have a few tips to keep the flavor and ditch the calories and fat.
Most of the coffee drinks you buy at your favorite coffee shop have a lot of extras added. This can include artificial coloring, flavoring, and sweeteners. So, the first step would be to consider making your coffee at home if you need flavored coffee. At least then, you have control over the items you add.
If you’re already making your coffee at home, take a look at what you’re adding to it. If you are using flavored coffee creamer, you’re probably adding a lot of sugar and heavy cream. Consider using regular milk instead. Or, if you are already using milk, consider switching to almond, soy, or coconut milk for a lower fat option.
I personally cannot drink my coffee without some type of sweetener added to it. I’ve tried and it’s just not the same. If you can give up sweetener in your coffee, that’s definitely the best bet. But, if you’re like me and you enjoy your coffee sweet, try adding stevia. Stevia won’t increase your blood sugar which is important for anyone watching their carbs or for diabetics. If you don’t enjoy stevia, try a natural option like honey instead of traditional white sugar or artificial sweeteners.
Even if you’re already drinking a healthy cup of coffee, you can still make a few changes to make it even healthier. Consider how many cups of coffee you drink in a day. Now, try to drink one or two fewer. I know there are days when I probably have a few too many. Several places recommend that you drink no more than four cups of coffee each day.
Or, if you can’t cut the number of cups of coffee you drink, why not try to drink them earlier in the day? I’ve heard recommendations that don’t drink coffee after 2 PM. Hopefully, by following a few of these recommendations, you can have a healthier cup of coffee tomorrow.
