For many, a warm cup of coffee is an essential start to the day. But beyond the caffeine kick, can your morning brew offer additional health benefits? The answer might be yes, with the addition of two simple ingredients: baking soda and cinnamon. This article explores the potential advantages of combining these ingredients with your coffee, offering insights into how this simple addition can improve your overall well-being.
The Metabolic Boost of Coffee
Coffee naturally contains caffeine, a stimulant known to temporarily increase metabolic function. This metabolic boost can contribute to appetite control, increased antioxidant intake, and enhanced fat burning. However, it's important to be mindful of caffeine's potential drawbacks, especially as you age or if you experience hormone imbalance symptoms. Caffeine can sometimes elevate stress hormones, leading to a "tired-but-wired" feeling and potentially increasing the likelihood of storing belly fat.
Cinnamon's Sweet Benefits
If you're looking for a healthier alternative to sugar in your coffee, cinnamon is an excellent choice. This spice offers a range of benefits, including reducing hyperglycemia, increasing fat burning, and decreasing inflammation. Cinnamon is packed with antioxidants and contains fiber, manganese, calcium, iron, and vitamin K. Studies have shown that cinnamaldehyde, the phytonutrient responsible for cinnamon's spicy taste and smell, can stimulate fat cells to increase fat metabolism. This means your cells will burn instead of store extra fat. Cinnamon also helps to prevent illnesses such as a sore throat, sinus trouble, allergies and more. Adding cinnamon to your warm drink can open and clear your sinus cavities. It has been shown through many studies that cinnamon lowers your risk of heart-related ailments and illnesses.
Baking Soda: Neutralizing Acidity and Enhancing Flavor
Coffee is naturally acidic, which can cause gastrointestinal discomfort for some individuals. Adding a pinch of baking soda to your coffee can help neutralize some of this acidity, making it gentler on the stomach. This can be particularly beneficial for those with acid reflux or sensitive stomachs.
Baking soda can also reduce the bitterness of overly bitter or burnt coffee. It's crucial to use it sparingly, as too much baking soda can result in an unpleasant taste.
Read also: The Truth About Baking Soda and Coffee for Weight Loss
Combining Baking Soda and Cinnamon: A Powerful Brew
The combination of baking soda and cinnamon elevates any brewed coffee to the most smooth and delicious pot ever.
How to Add Baking Soda and Cinnamon to Your Coffee
The trick is to add a pinch or two of baking soda and a few sprinkles of cinnamon to the coffee grounds just before brewing. Start with 1/4 tsp of baking soda (make sure it’s a fresh box of baking soda) and 2 sprinkles of the cinnamon and go from there. You’ll know you used too much baking soda if the coffee is weirdly flat, but once you get the right amount, you’ll never brew your coffee again without it. You can totally use this has with a k-cup or other single-use coffee pod. My Keurig brews a 12 oz cup of coffee and I will add 1/16th tsp of baking soda and stir it right in. If you still want cinnamon, just add a sprinkle.
Additional Ingredients for Enhanced Benefits
To further enhance the metabolic benefits of your coffee, consider adding coconut oil or MCT oil and collagen powder.
Coconut Oil and MCT Oil
Coconut oil contains a high ratio of medium-chain fatty acids (MCTs). MCTs are digested and then shuttled directly to the liver, where they promote the burning of other fat cells and contribute to the overall thermogenic effect of food. A 2015 meta-analysis found that adults consuming MCTs experienced a reduction in body fat and weight compared to those consuming long-chain fats.
Collagen Powder
Collagen (and gelatin) are a major dietary source of glycine, an amino acid that's often lacking in Western diets. Glycine helps with methylation, a crucial step in converting nutrients from food into fuel.
Read also: Does Baking Soda Help You Lose Weight?
How to Make Metabolic-Boosting Coffee
Making coffee to boost fat burning and increase weight loss is easy, and only takes a few steps. In a large mug with your coffee (or tea), stir in coconut oil and cinnamon. While stirring, sprinkle in collagen powder and keep stirring until fully dissolved. *You can substitute pure MCT oil for coconut oil for maximum benefit. If this is the case, adjust the amount to the serving recommended on the MCT product itself.
Incorporating into Your Routine
This coffee (or tea) is perfect for enjoying in a daily diet, or a few times a week when you need more energy. Set the tone for a great day with a jumpstart of holistic nutrients to boost your metabolism. Cinnamon and coconut oil in your coffee or tea help reduce inflammation and balance blood sugar levels. You can also try collagen peptides.
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