10 WAYS TO MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR COFFEE HABIT

Coffee lovers are constantly tinged with guilt. You can’t do without it, but each time you gulp a cup of creamy steaming coffee, the fact that you are consuming something unhealthy keeps plaguing your mind. But it’s actually not that bad. Coffee, when had the right way, can actually help you on your way to good health. Here are 10 ways to make the most out of that coffee habit of yours. 

·      Don’t think coffee before 10 am. Research shows that people feel pretty alert for the first hour or two after waking up because of high cortisone levels in the body. You need coffee when you reach office because by that time your cortisone levels drop.

·      Space out your coffee consumption. Researchers have found that small, frequent doses of caffeine are more effective than a huge dose first thing in the morning.

·      Don’t think coffee with your meals. Have it an hour after lunch, when you feel sleepy. Avoid coffee after dinner. It may seem like a comforting thing to have, but it will spoil your sleep.

·      On the other hand, having a coffee before a power nap may be the best thing to do.

·      Top up every caffeinated drink you have each day with a glass of water. Coffee has diuretic properties. That basically means you pee more often and lose more water from the body. You need to replenish that.

·      Know how much caffeine you are consuming. About 400 mg of caffeine a day is thought to be safe for adults. More than this can lead to irritability, upset stomach and insomnia.

·       Drinking a small cup of coffee after a learning event boosts memory. So if you have just attended a meeting and been put in charge of a difficult project, have some coffee before you start making a to-do list.

·      But the real benefit of a coffee is how you drink it. Adding milk and sugar to it is not the best way to go about it. Instead, drink black coffee or coffee with plant-based milk additives, like almond milk, soy milk or coconut milk. Switch from sugar to raw honey.

·      Avoid milk substitutes and artificial sweeteners like the plague!