A Cup of Joe

Coffee…is it good for you or is it something we should completely avoid? Coffee certainly has pros to it such as it boosts physical performance, burns fat that is used as fuel, can help in weight loss, regulates blood sugar levels, increases brain activity, improves focus & mental activity, and has a higher rate of antioxidants than vegetables or fruit. Everyone has to focus on how much coffee he or she should consume daily, especially caffeinated, depending on his or her health concerns. Too much caffeine can keep you up at night, make your heart race and depending what you put in it can be unhealthy for you. Caffeine can also dehydrate you therefore to make up for it I always recommend an extra glass (8oz) of water.

Coffee also has a positive impact on health such as it lowers risk of cardiovascular disease & stroke, Alzheimer’s disease & dementia, liver cancer & cirrhosis of the liver, lowers risk of Parkinson’s disease by 25%, decreases insulin sensitivity thus lowering risk of Type 2 diabetes, and boosts serotonin & dopamine levels contributing to an elevated mood, suppressing depression. Yes, coffee can do all that…who knew! Studies show drinking up to four (8oz) cups of coffee per day is safe.

Here’s how coffee can become unhealthy. Adding too much sugar or too much full fat milk or cream, will lead to an increase in sugar and fat content in the coffee. Not everyone enjoys having his or her coffee black; to enjoy it and keep it healthy add 1%, skim milk or unsweetened almond milk instead of milk or cream. If you need that little sweetness in your coffee add sugar in the raw or just regular sugar in moderation. With those simple changes you can enjoy your coffee and reap all the health benefits at the same time!