Just when you thought your mid-morning cup o’ joe couldn’t get sexier…jazz it up with nutrition and flavor!
Almost eighty-five percent of North Americans begin their mornings with coffee. Flavor is part of the experience but many admit it’s the caffeine jolt that’s the motivation behind the start-of-the-day ritual.
There have been loads of studies on coffee: its nutritional content, how it affects the human metabolism, and long-term caffeine use. With some exceptions, by all accounts coffee is good for you.
But it could be better.
One of the great drawbacks of drinking coffee in the morning is the crash that follows. If you’ve eaten a hearty, nutritious breakfast and are active all morning, you may not experience this. But many of us do.
A cup of nice, hot coffee gets the motor running, you bound in to work and tackle the items at the top of your list, and then…BOOM! You feel like it’s nap time.
Co-workers frown upon dozing during meetings or inattention to customers or forgetting what you were about to say because the caffeine has worn off. You could drink another cup of coffee but that prolongs the inevitable.
There’s a delicious way to make that caffeine-induced energy last all the way to lunch time, when you can replenish your fuel with your mid-day meal.
The recipe for spiced coffee below retains the flavor of coffee but adds nutrition to extend the initial buzz. On top of that, you can make a batch ahead of time that’ll be ready for you each morning. It’s like a coffee smoothie. You can drink it cold or heat it gently on the stove while you brush your hair.
Here’s how it works. (We don’t have to mention the coffee part—that’s a given.)
Your brain needs fats to function properly. Coconut milk is a superlative source of healthy fats, along with its antioxidants and tropical flavor. Minerals calcium, iron, copper, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, and zinc plus vitamins C, B-complex, E, K, and fiber drive coffee’s impact way up to not only pep you up but prop you up.
Hemp protein is a complete protein, with twenty amino acids that the human body needs for energy, growth, and repair. Essential fatty acids omega-3 and -6 are present in a balanced 3-to-1 ratio. Its fiber promotes proper digestion. Like all plants, hemp contains its share of vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll, and other phytonutrients. Because hemp powder is made from the seeds of the hemp plant, it can be tolerated by many people sensitive to nuts. (Let us note here that there are no psychoactive compounds in hemp seeds, although they are marijuana cousins.) You might call hemp protein a superfood.
Dates add sweetness, fiber, potassium, copper, iron, selenium and other minerals, vitamins A and K, and sulfuric compounds known to have an antihistamine effect.
Now for the spicy part.
Cinnamon – we could go on and on about cinna-mon…it’s a truly magnificent spice that does all sorts of wonderful things inside the body. A natural anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, and antibacterial that regulates blood sugar and pressure, the rich savory flavor goes exceedingly well with coffee. Cinnamon supports metabolism and improves brain function to further the same effects of coffee.
Cardamom – made from the seeds of plants indigenous to south Asia, this savory “queen of spices” is nutrient-rich and has been shown effective for promoting cardiovascular health, regulating cholesterol, gastrointestinal support, inhibiting cancer growth, moderating asthma, an anti-spasmodic, anti-inflammatory, anti-depressant, and antibacterial. (1)
Nutmeg – savory with a kick, this spice is derived from the seed of the nutmeg tree. It’s been used medicinally for centuries for everything from toothache to muscle ache to digestive system support. Flavonoid antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals support the immune system. Studies have shown the myristicin in nutmeg to cause leukemia cancer cell apoptosis. (2)
Here’s the recipe. You might consider this supercoffee.
Cinnamon Spiced Coffee
Ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cardamom
- 4 cups coffee
- 1 cup hemp protein powder
- 10 dates
- 2 cups coconut milk
Directions:
- Brew the coffee and spices together.
- Pour coffee into a blender and add the rest of the ingredients. Blend until smooth.
- Store in the refrigerator.