More to that, coffee brings people together, from families drinking coffee at the table to friends gathering around to have a good conversation.

Research shows that coffee is not bad for you, in fact it may even have some health benefits when consumed “the right way”.

Now let’s clarify what is not healthy coffee: Cinnamon dolce lattes, caramel frappuccinos, and coffee with half and half creamer and sugar are NOT healthy forms of coffee. They contain high amounts of sugar, empty calories, artificial ingredients and unhealthy fats.

According to many different studies, a healthy cup of coffee can protect against Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and liver disease. Coffee can also help you lighten your mood and improve brain function. If that’s not enough reason to drink it, well let me tell you, coffee has what we hope all our food had: Antioxidants.

Antioxidants are molecules that prevent the oxidation of other molecules in your body. Antioxidants help your body prevent disease, slow down the aging process, repair cellular damage, and maintain good health. You are not going to believe this, but in the standard “American Diet”, coffee is the number one source of antioxidants (Hint, most antioxidants should not be coming from your coffee! But that’s the reality of nutrition in this country).

SO, TO COFFEE OR NOT TO COFFEE?

If you can follow this easy to implement steps to keep your coffee and yourself healthy, then give yourself permission to enjoy a warm and buttery cup of coffee.

1. ONE 12-OUNCE CUP OF COFFEE A DAY
If you drink more than one cup you can find yourself getting easily irritable throughout the day or not sleeping well at night.

2. YOUR COFFEE SHOULD BE ORGANIC
Coffee is the most heavily pesticide-sprayed crop in the world. You don’t want those toxins entering your body do you? Buy organic -always-.

3. DRINK COFFEE FOR PLEASURE AND NOT FOR ENERGY
Relying on coffee to stay awake will overwhelm your adrenal glands and your hormones. If you depend on coffee to function then you need to switch from a “coffee brake” to a “brake from coffee”. You can always substitute your cup of  coffee for a cup of green tea if you need to.

4. USE PURIFIED WATER
Your coffee will not only taste better, it will be free of contaminants that are present in tap water.

5. AVOID SUGAR AND ARTIFICIAL SWEETENERS
If you enjoy your coffee on the sweeter side, try a drop of liquid organic stevia or vanilla extract, raw honey or even a splash of almond milk (I drink mine with almond milk and cinnamon). These are healthier alternatives to make your coffee taste perfectly delicious. Please -please- stay away from artificial sweeteners (unless they are recommended by your doctor due to health conditions).

6. BREAK THE COFFEE BRAKE
Take a few days off of coffee to avoid dependency. You can always substitute your cup of coffee for a cup of green tea.

I’m not advocating for you to drink coffee, I do however, want you to be informed of what good coffee is and isn’t so you can make the best decisions for your health.

(Sources: Harvard School Of Public Health, Mayo Clinic, NCBI)

Yours in Health,
Janise Ojeda