Make your coffee work for you!
Don’t panic, I’m not telling you to cut coffee out of your life, because let’s face it, you’d stop reading now if I said that, wouldn’t you?
Coffee isn’t all bad, in fact, there are heaps of studies linking coffee to favourable health outcomes such as a reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Alzheimers disease, colon cancer and liver cirrhosis to name a few. However, the reality is that coffee is a very acidic drink that can raise cortisol levels (stress hormone) which in turn will affect other hormones, e.g. oestrogen.
The caffeine in coffee is a known stimulant, so, it’s fabulous to get you moving in the morning, but it can cause blood vessels to constrict, which means the circulation to your skin can become compromised and the delivery of antioxidants and nutrients to promote collagen production will be less efficient, meaning skin is less nourished.
Coffee is also a diuretic so if you drink too much (more than 3 – 4 cups a day) it can make you urinate more and might therefore end up dehydrating your skin, leaving it looking wrinkled, dull and blotchy.
Plus, if you take milk with your coffee, it can lead to excess sebum production (oily skin) which can trigger acne. Also milk is one of the most commonly self-reported allergens in the world, causing inflammation which may lead to a whole host of health issues. And of course, if you can’t take your coffee without sugar, then that can increase your inflammatory response and cause glycation, which results pre-mature ageing.
However, it’s not all doom & gloom. Many people find that starting the day with a bulleproof coffee is a perfect compromise. You get to enjoy the benefits of coffee whilst reducing some of the risk. Bulletproof coffee is basically a good quality coffee blended with MCT oil (medium-chain triglycerides) or coconut oil plus grass-fed butter (e.g. Westgold). The healthy fats contain vitamins A, D, E & K & K2 and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which have been shown in studies to reduce body fat mass whilst sustaining energy for several hours.
Once it’s blended, it’s really quite tasty, but if you think it sounds less than palatable, there are loads of ways to pimp it up! For example, add a teaspoon of cinnamon for additional anti-oxidant & anti-inflammatory benefits. Cinnamon can also reduce insulin-resistance, therefore lowering blood sugar levels and is naturally anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. I also love a teaspoon of cacao in mine. Cacao is also a great source of anti-oxidants, an excellent source of iorn, magnesium, calcium and it naturally boosts serotonin (the “feel good” hormone). You can also add Maca to balance hormones and energy levels and/or a good quality collagen powder (e.g. Great Lakes) for a protein and essential amino acid boost.
Can you think of any other way to pimp your coffee to make it work a little harder for you?
