For many years, I played around with the idea of quitting my morning (and often afternoon) cups of java. I wanted to be healthier, have better sleep, keep a steady weight, clear skin and have better digestion. So many well respected health experts like Dr.Hyman claim these benefits are possible when you quit coffee. I was determined to experience this blissful breakthrough.
So I quit.
For a little while anyway. Many times even! But I was miserable, and I saw very few health improvements (if any at all)! I made the realization through a bit of trial and error, that my all-or-nothing approach might bring more resistance and pain and way less happiness than I had hoped!
Perhaps daily coffee isn’t such a terrible thing?
As it turns out, recent studies are showing the multiple benefits of caffeine and specifically coffee. Of course, there are studies showing the darker side of coffee as well (those ones swirl around social media most often it seems!). It appears that your genetic makeup might be the greater determining factor in whether you tolerate and metabolize caffeine efficiently.
The most commonly reported benefits are:
-Enhanced fitness performance
-Improved mood
-More energy
-Lowered risk for diabetes
-Lowered risk for certain cancers
-Reduced cognitive decline
So maybe keeping your daily coffee isn’t such a terrible idea. But, switching the time of day and the quantity you consume might be something worthwhile looking at. Your natural circadian rhythm is dictated by the rise and fall of certain hormones throughout the day (cortisol being one of the main ones). When cortisol dips, your energy naturally does as well, making this the perfect time for a pick me up like coffee. Mid morning and mid afternoon show the most promising times of the day to really benefit from coffee’s magical powers. See here for a great explanation.
It goes without saying that what you put in your coffee matters a lot too. Reducing (replacing or eliminating) those extras like dairy, sugar and sweeteners will go a long way, especially if you are a daily consumer.
So how do you like your coffee? Bold & strong, mild and mellow? Brewed, pressed, percolated, dripped? I prefer bold and strong, with a touch of 10% organic cream, ½ teaspoon of coconut oil, and a pinch of coconut sugar. Mmmm time for my mid-morning cup!
My favorite coffee is this one at the moment (dark & strong):
Lavazza Gran Selezione
Edited: So I’ve switched to non-dairy milk (full time), which includes my beloved coffee! My newest obsession is with this amazing oat milk by Earth’s Own. You can find it in most health food stores, Whole Foods, and even Shoppers Drug Mart. I now order on Amazon, because I like to stock up by the case ! It’s honestly my favorite non-dairy milk now. Creamy, smooth, delicious and replaces dairy like no other! Check it out right here! Earth’s Own Oat Milk
