As a health coach, I get this question a lot.

Is coffee healthy?

Can you drink it and maintain a healthy lifestyle? Often, one of the first questions I get is, “I don’t have to give up coffee do I?” So I’m here to answer these questions since so many of us are coffee drinkers.

If you pay attention in the world of social media, a lot of health influencers are jumping on the no coffee train and stopping in the land of matcha is much healthier for me. I love matcha, but is it necessary to completely cut out coffee because you think you are being healthy? I’ll be the first to tell you, I am a coffee snob. I LOVE coffee but am I going to give up coffee completely with the misconception that not drinking it will make me SOOOO much healthier? Absolutely not.

It’s not coffee itself that makes the start of your day unhealthy but it could be the ingredients you are putting into your coffee. If you are filling your coffee with lots of cream, sugar, or sugary syrups, then that is what is unhealthy. And then there’s the argument that caffeine is a drug so coffee should be given up for this reason. If you are drinking more than three cups of coffee a day, then yes you need to decrease your intake. However, one cup of coffee in the morning is not going to make you quote unquote unhealthy.

In fact, there are many benefits to drinking a cup of coffee.

1. Coffee is high in antioxidants

2. It’s good for a healthy gut microbiome

3. It increases bowel movements

4. It’s a natural appetite suppressor

These are just a few benefits to drinking coffee. There are also studies that have shown a decreased risk in major health problems for people who drink coffee as well (1-3 cups a day max).

I understand that there are people who can’t tolerate coffee. For some, the acidity is too much for their stomach or they have migraines and the caffeine makes the pain worse. That’s me. I have struggled with migraines since I was in high school and caffeine makes my symptoms worse when I have a migraine or a bad headache. I just drink decaf on those days, that’s how much I love it. I’m not a coffee drinker to get the caffeine. I’m a coffee drinker because I LOVE it.

Having said all that, it is important to mention that if you are a coffee drinker like me, try to buy organic. Coffee may be one of the most popular drinks in the world, but it’s also one of the most chemically treated foods in the world. Conventional coffee is filled with pesticides so if at all possible, buy organic. I’m not the type of person to buy everything organic, but I always make sure my coffee is.

So enjoy that cup of coffee in the morning. It’s definitely the highlight of every morning for me, so why would I change it?

If you would like to learn more about the benefits of coffee, try listening to this podcast episode. It is very informative and is one of my favorite episodes from The Well Man’s podcast!

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Some of my favorite coffee ad-ins:

• Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides
• Nut Pods unsweetened dairy free creamer
• Cinnamon
• Heritage Harvest Farms Wellness Honey