Nothing beats a cup of coffee to get our day started on the right foot when we wake up. It’s one of the most beloved beverages in the world for its power to fine-tune our focus and just make everything in the morning better.

But aside from being your favorite morning brew, researchers are now also suggesting it’s one of the healthiest despite its long history of debate – a good news for coffee lovers.

Coffee is high in antioxidants and it contains caffeine which increases energy levels and decreases fatigue by altering certain neurotransmitters in the brain. Coffee consumption is also associated with lowered risk of several chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and obesity.

Here are a few tips to make your cup of coffee from healthy to super healthy.

 

1. Abstain from coffee after 2 p.m.

 

It’s always tempting to caffeinate in the afternoon especially if you are craving that jolt of energy coffee gives when you feel tired and sleepy. But it’s important to take note that caffeine is a stimulant which can impair and interfere with your sleep if consumed late in the day.

Avoid coffee from 2 p.m. and if you must, choose decaf or just opt completely for matcha or tea as they contain less caffeine than coffee.

 

2. Use natural sweetener.

 

The best way to defeat the health benefits of coffee is to load it with a whole bunch of sugar. Sugar imposes serious risk to our health and is associated with diabetes and obesity along with other chronic diseases.

If you really like your coffee sweet, use natural sweeteners like stevia or honey. 

 

3. Drink moderately.

 

Although coffee is healthy on its own, excessive caffeine intake can still have various adverse side effects. Up to 400 milligrams (mg) of caffeine a day appears to be safe for most healthy adults according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. That’s about 4 cups of brewed coffee.

It is still important to consider, however, that people have different tolerances and responses to caffeine.

 

4. Try adding a dash of cinnamon.

 

Cinnamon goes well with the flavor of coffee and it is oozing with health benefits to give your cup more health boost.

Cinnamon is a tasty spice, prized for its medicinal properties and effects on our metabolism. It is also loaded with antioxidants, outranking even “superfoods” like garlic and oregano. 

If you want to try a twist in your plain cup of coffee, a dash of cinnamon powder will do its magic and it’s surprisingly good.

 

5. Brew your coffee with a paper filter.

 

Some compounds in coffee are linked to health problems. One of which is cafestol, a diterpenoid molecule found in coffee oils that may raise blood cholesterol levels and induce cardiovascular diseases.

Some brewing methods do not filter out the oils in coffee. Fortunately, paper filters can nearly remove  all the cafestol in coffee and yield a clean cup that has very little oil.

 

 

It’s always a good idea to explore healthier options in many things including in your cup of coffee. While studies are now supporting coffee as a healthy beverage, with the right amount, time of consumption, and addition, you can make your favorite morning brew even healthier.