Your morning coffee is not only a much-loved self-care ritual to start the day, but it also comes with a host of health benefits, and that (needed) caffeine kick. So when it comes to your daily dose what is the healthiest option? We’re about to find out.
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How much should you drink per day?
When it comes to how much you should be drinking there is no perfect answer. Everyone’s body metabolises coffee very differently, it’s mostly genetic and is also often dependent on your behaviour (i.e how much you drink a day) but it can even come down to how much food you’ve eaten the day before. Start off with one shot and see how you’re feeling if you start to get the coffee jitters or shakes it’s time for a break. According to a study by the University of South Australia, you can have six cups of coffee before it becomes potentially damaging to your health.
Health benefits of drinking coffee
Australians are coffee-addicts, to say the least, we guzzle six billion cups of coffee every year, but is our daily obsession doing us any good? Surprisingly yes, here are a couple of proven health benefits.1. Caffeine consumption has been proven to improve memory, mood and energy levels.
2. Studies have shown that caffeine can increase your metabolic rate or fat-burning potential by up to 10 per cent.
3. Coffee is often recommended as a pre-workout drink before the gym or exercise as it helps disguise the signs of fatigue. Allowing athletes to push themselves further.
4. Is loaded with essential nutrients like vitamin B12, B5 and B5 as well as manganese and potassium.
1. Flat white
Turns out keeping your coffee order nice and simple is kinder on your body too. Whilst full cream milk does have up to 10 grams of fat per cup a bit of fat will keep you full between meals and cow’s milk also comes with a plethora of nutrients like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and protein.
2. Almond milk latte
If cow’s milk doesn’t agree with your stomach or your values an unsweetened almond milk latte is a great option. It has just over 120 calories and seven grams of fat, just make sure you’re drinking unsweetened almond milk not the sweet stuff.
Lately, soy milk has got a bad wrap but we’ve been assured it’s not as bad as it sounds. It has similar caloric content to full cream milk and has been seen to help manage cholesterol levels.
4. Skim cappuccino
Skim milk will give you all of the nutrient goodness you need just without the extra fat and 50 fewer calories than full cream. Whilst a sprinkling of chocolate won’t hurt your health try swapping it for a dash of cinnamon for a metabolism boost.
5. Long blacks
Whilst yes, they almost always come with a negative calorie count be careful you don’t end up adding in mounds of sugar to mask their bitter taste. A milk-based coffee is a great mid-morning snack that will keep you full until lunchtime.
6. Mocha or coffees with added syrups
As much as we’d love to endorse a warm, creamy mochaccino any kind of additives it loaded with sugars and will come with a fun high and an almighty crash.
Barista alternatives
If you’re not into a barista-made brew, try out these healthy coffee blends.
1. Sipp
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Sipp is a Byron-brewed sustainable coffee company. Born out of frustration for expensive coffee and the impact that coffee was having on the environment, founders Luke and Dylan knew that there had to be a better way. Sipp is not only good for the planet but it’s good for you. “We added heat resistant probiotics for gut health and overall wellbeing, complex carbohydrates for modulated energy release throughout the day.” Dylan explains, “we are completely plastic-free and our packaging is 100% certified home compostable.”
2. Body Science
Body Science are well known for their plant-based protein range (and their cult-like fan base) but their clean coffee is a relatively new addition to the range. “Coffee is rich in antioxidants and can also boost cognitive and athletic performance,” Body Science dietitian Harriet Walker explains. “Body Science has taken their Single Origin Clean Coffee to the next level and made it a functional beverage to boost energy during the day. With the addition of apple cider vinegar (don’t worry you can’t taste it) for its benefits to gut health, MCT oils to help manage appetite and the clinically tested lemon balm extract Bluenesse.”
3. beforeyouspeak
Jaryd Terkelsen, co-founder of beforeyouspeak coffee explains that he alongside business partner, Ash Bisset, created “ a range of different functional instant coffee blends now using ingredients like MCT’s, turmeric, ginseng to help increase energy and focus without the crash, through to our collagen coffee which has been specifically formulated to help improve your health of hair, skin and nails.”
