The Best Way To Have Your Coffee

Coffee is the most popular morning beverage in The United States and maybe even around the world.  There is also research showing coffee has many nutritional benefits.  Ayurveda views a food's value by the effect it has on your unique body type.  Coffee has a bitter taste which makes it more suited to kapha and pitta body types.  Even with its benefits for those body types, coffee consumption should not exceed three (one or two is even better) cups a day and is best had in the morning. 

People tend to drink coffee first thing in the morning and have a special ritual associated with it.  There is also a personal preference with what people put in their coffee.  Non-dairy creamer is probably the worst choice nutritionally.  The chemicals, oils, sugars and milk products vary depending on the brand, but they mostly contain bad oils that are trans fats or saturated providing harm to the body and little nutritional benefit (like palm, soybean or partially hydrogenated oils).  Additionally, usually there are high fructose corn syrups.  If the corn syrup is  “high fructose,” that means enzymes were added to convert some of the glucose to fructose which in effect makes it have 15% more calories and 20% more carbohydrates than plain white sugar.  I would rather add my own sweetener if I even want sweetener.  There are also lots of preservatives and chemical products that modulate consistency in non-dairy creamers.

A better way to add a creamy taste to coffee would be to add almond, coconut, soy, hemp or real milk to the coffee.  These are all better choices nutritionally.  However, there has been research showing that some of the healthy benefits of coffee are lost when milk  is added.  Coffee is probably best consumed in its natural black state.  If coffee is too bitter and dark for you, then make it with a lighter roast and use more water.  The natural coffee and its nutritional benefits are more bioavailable just plain.

Stay healthy & well,
Lisa