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Originally Posted On: https://forwellness.com/blogs/be-well/the-best-supplements-to-enhance-your-morning-coffee
Did you know that drinking two or more cups of coffee daily can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by approximately 20%?
Coffee is also a good source of vitamin B2, magnesium, and caffeine, increasing your energy levels and making you feel more alert.
If you want to enhance the benefits of your daily cup of joe, it’s time to look at the best supplements you can add to your coffee. Adding naturally occurring, healthy supplements will give you the boost you need for your overall health and well-being.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know about adding healthy supplements to your coffee daily!
Collagen Powder
As far as coffee supplements go, collagen can make for a healthy addition to your coffee and bring many benefits to your body.
But why is collagen so important? Collagen is a dense fibrous protein found in your muscles, skin, tendons, and bones. Collagen makes up a total of one-third of the protein in your body. Collagen is like the scaffold that provides structure and strength within your body.
It plays a critical role in holding your body’s cells together and is also an essential component of connective tissue throughout your body.
Collagen is key to joint health, skin elasticity, and cardiovascular health. As people age, their bodies produce less collagen. This decline in collagen results in wrinkles, weak joint cartilage, and an overall structural decrease in bone and skin tissues.
Types of Collagen
Although there are many different types of collagen, approximately 90% of the collagen in your body comes from three main types, which include:
Type 1 Collagen
Type 1 collagen is in your bones, skin, ligaments, and tendons.
Type 2 Collagen
Type 2 is mainly in the cartilage throughout your entire body. It’s also found in the vitreous humor, a clear, colorless fluid that fills the space between the retina and lens of your eye.
Type 3 Collagen
Finally, type 3 collagen is in your blood vessels, muscles, and skin.
Collagen Supplements
Certain foods are high in collagen, like eggs, dairy, poultry, fish, and bone broth. Red meat like brisket and chuck steak is rich in collagen; however, eating a lot of red meat is not recommended if you have high cholesterol or follow a plant-based diet.
Therefore, many people take collagen supplements to increase the collagen in their daily diet.
Health Benefits of Collagen Supplements
Collagen supplements can have beneficial effects on the skin. People who take collagen supplements report higher skin moisture levels and better skin elasticity.
Collagen also reduces the appearance of wrinkles, especially in older people.
Collagen provides other health benefits, which include:
Contributes to Healthier Nails and Thicker Hair
People who take collagen supplements daily typically notice an increase in the quantity of their hair. Collagen supplements can also improve hair thickness and scalp coverage.
Collagen also contributes to faster nail growth and fewer broken nails.
Prevents Bone Loss
Since collagen makes up a significant part of your bone structure, a lack of collagen in your body can lead to bone deterioration. Your bones become more brittle and less dense and tend to break more easily.
Collagen supplements can help your bones become less brittle and less dense since they help your body produce more bone.
Improves Joint Health and Reduces Arthritis Pain
Collagen is also known to improve joint health. As you age, your joints can start to break down. The cartilage in your joints will also begin to wear away. This happens even more in people with arthritis.
Collagen supplements can help prevent and restore the deterioration in the joints. It can also improve joint function and reduce pain in people with arthritis.
Additionally, collagen supplements support chondrocyte cell function, which are cells responsible for collagen production.
Can Increase Muscle Mass
Taking collagen supplements along with daily exercise can increase muscle strength and mass more than if you just exercised without taking any supplements.
Helps Heart Health
Since collagen is found in your muscles and tendons, it can reduce artery stiffness and LDL (harmful) cholesterol levels. Reducing artery stiffness can promote heart health by decreasing the risk of conditions like coronary artery disease.
Adding Collagen to Your Coffee
Now that you understand more about collagen, it’s easy to see how it can give coffee the boost your body needs. Even better, coffee contains specific organic compounds that give it natural anti-inflammatory properties that benefit your entire body.
The good news is you don’t have to worry about the high temperatures of coffee affecting the quality of your collagen supplement.
While collagen proteins can go through a process known as degradation when exposed to high temperatures, the coffee you drink isn’t hot enough to cause this. Temperatures must reach at least 150 degrees Celsius or 302 degrees Fahrenheit to induce these changes.
You can brew your coffee as you usually would and add about 20 grams of collagen powder. Gently stir until it’s completely dissolved.
Manuka Honey
Manuka honey is an excellent choice if you’re looking to sweeten your coffee but avoid artificial sweeteners. It also provides significant health benefits to your body.
Manuka is honey native to New Zealand and certain parts of Australia. It’s produced when bees pollinate flowers on the manuka bush, which is a type of tea tree.
Typically, traditional honey comes from the nectar of a variety of flowers. On the other hand, manuka honey is from the nectar of one flower, meaning it’s a monofloral honey.
Healing Properties of Manuka Honey
Manuka honey has many healing properties, providing a wide range of benefits for your body, such as:
- Antioxidant properties
- Antiviral properties
- Anti-inflammatory properties
- Antibacterial properties
Health Benefits of Manuka Honey
Manuka honey has many health benefits, and you can also use it to treat specific health ailments.
Effective Wound Treatment
The main benefit of manuka honey is its antibacterial properties making it a very effective wound treatment. In fact, manuka honey has been approved by the FDA for wound treatment.
It speeds up the healing process, prevents infections, and decreases pain in people with burns.
Helps Sore Throats
Manuka is also very helpful in treating sore throats and throat infections. Manuka honey’s anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties help relieve throat inflammation and fight infection.
You can mix manuka honey in tea or warm water to soothe your throat.
Helps Improve Oral Health
Manuka can also help improve oral health by protecting against dental plaque buildup. Decreasing plaque buildup can prevent conditions like gum disease.
Can Treat Different Types of Ulcers
Manuka can help treat two main types of ulcers: gastric ulcers and diabetic ulcers, which commonly affect the bottom of the foot.
Applying manuka honey to diabetic ulcers, along with conventional wound treatment therapies, can speed up healing time.
Gastric ulcers that form on the stomach lining can cause nausea, pain, and bloating. Manuka honey can reduce inflammation and increase specific enzymes that protect the lining against damage.
Hydrates the Skin and Reduces Acne
Manuka honey hydrates the skin and can be effective against acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties. You can find skincare products on the market today that contain manuka.
Adding Manuka Honey to Your Coffee
Although manuka can serve as a great sweetener to your coffee, it is less sweet than other types of honey you may be used to. It’s also much thicker than traditional honey.
You can simply brew your coffee and mix in a teaspoon of manuka honey.
Cinnamon
Adding cinnamon to your coffee can add fantastic flavor, but it’s also loaded with antioxidants that benefit your health.
So, cinnamon may be your answer if you love the flavor that creams and sweeteners give your coffee but don’t want the unhealthy benefits.
Cinnamon is a spice that’s been used as a medicine and a flavor enhancer for thousands of years. It’s made by cutting off stems of cinnamon trees and extracted from the bark. It forms strips when it dries that curl into rolls, known as cinnamon sticks.
If you want higher-quality cinnamon, you can consider using Ceylon cinnamon. Ceylon cinnamon is more expensive but is knowns as “true Cinnamon” and comes from Sri Lanka.
The other type of cinnamon is Cassia cinnamon which is most commonly found in stores today and is usually referred to as just cinnamon.
Health Benefits of Cinnamon
One of the most significant benefits of cinnamon is that it contains many powerful antioxidants.
Antioxidants protect your cells against free radicals. Free radicals are molecules your body produces when it breaks down food or when you’re exposed to air pollutants, industrial chemicals, or cigarette smoke.
Free radicals can cause damage to your body’s DNA by causing them to make specific ineffective proteins. As a result, having too many free radicals in your body can put you at risk for diseases like cancer.
Reduces Inflammation
Cinnamon also helps reduce inflammation in your body. Some people have chronic inflammation due to autoimmune disorders or chronic stress. Eating food like cinnamon, that have anti-inflammatory properties, can reduce the overall inflammation in your body.
Lowers Your Risk of Heart Disease
Cinnamon is linked to a decreased risk of heart disease. According to a recent study, adding 3/4 of a teaspoon of cinnamon to your daily diet can reduce your total cholesterol, triglycerides, and bad cholesterol.
Lowers Blood Sugar Levels
Cinnamon is also known to reduce blood sugar levels by decreasing the amount of glucose that enters your bloodstream after you eat a meal.
This is because cinnamon interferes with various digestive enzymes after you eat, which slows down how quickly your body breaks down carbohydrates.
Cinnamon can also be beneficial in people who have diabetes. When you have diabetes, your pancreas can’t make enough insulin, or your cells don’t respond to the insulin normally.
Cinnamon imitates the effects of insulin and increases the movement of sugar from the bloodstream to the cells. It also increases insulin sensitivity, which makes insulin more efficient at moving sugar into cells for your body to use for energy.
Adding Cinnamon to Your Coffee
You can add cinnamon to your coffee by mixing 1/2 tsp of cinnamon into your brewed coffee. Alternatively, you can put 1 tsp of cinnamon directly into your coffee grounds.
If you want to give your coffee even more of an antioxidant boost, you can pair cinnamon with For Wellness Antioxidant Coffee. This coffee is roasted to maintain higher levels of the natural antioxidants that occur in coffee.
Cacao Powder
Coffee and chocolate are a delicious combination for many people. When you add cacao to your coffee, you’re getting both flavor and a variety of health benefits.
People have used cacao for over 5,000 years as a flavor enhancer and for spiritual purposes.
Cacao comes from the cacao tree, which is native to the Amazon Basin, and the fruit of the cacao tree contains cacao seeds. The seed must be mashed into a paste and heated to make chocolate. This creates cocoa, the main ingredient in most chocolate products today.
When you cold-press unroasted cacao, you get raw cacao. Raw cacao is a “superfood” because it contains high amounts of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Raw cacao tastes bitter on its own, so it’s typically made into a powder you can add to drinks, smoothies, and various foods.
Health Benefits of Cacao
First, cacao contains antioxidants. As mentioned earlier, antioxidants fight free radicals in the body. Since free radicals cause damage to your body, they can also damage your skin, causing wrinkles and dryness.
The more antioxidants you consume, the more you’ll stop this damage from occurring in your body. While cacao can’t stop aging, it can impact how quickly you age in terms of appearance and overall health.
Improves Cognitive Function and Energy Levels
Flavanoids are compounds that naturally occur in plants. Flavanols are a subgroup of flavonoids found in foods like cocoa, tea, grapes, and red wine.
Cacao has a specific flavanol called epicatechin that can improve your brain health. Specifically, it improves blood flow and cognition and may reduce your risk of dementia.
In addition, cacao paired with coffee can boost your energy levels. While cacao has low levels of caffeine on its own, it has a chemical called theobromine, which stimulates the cardiovascular system.
Protects Your Heart
Foods rich in flavonol also improve how the walls of your blood vessels function and reduce blood pressure. Having normal blood pressure reduces your risk of heart disease.
Improves Digestive Health
Cacao is a good source of fiber. Fiber improves digestion by preventing constipation. It also keeps you feeling full for longer, so you’re not as hungry between meals.
Lowers Your Blood Sugar
The flavanol epicatechin can also help lower your blood sugar. Epicatechin can increase insulin sensitivity, benefiting people with type 2 diabetes.
It can also help with blood sugar regulation, reducing insulin resistance in people without diabetes. Ultimately, this may help to slow the progression of diabetes in people with insulin resistance.
Adding Cacao to Your Coffee
It’s best to use organic raw cacao to get the most health benefits. All you need to do is stir in a tablespoon of raw cacao to get the boost you need for the day.
MCT Oil
MCT is a popular supplement made from a specific type of fat known as medium-chain triglycerides. As opposed to long-chain triglycerides (LCT), which are found in most of the fats you consume, MCT absorbs into your bloodstream more quickly.
This quick absorption allows MCT to turn into energy you can utilize immediately.
MCT is typically made from palm kernel oil or coconut oil. It’s also found in dairy products. Many people use MCT for help with things like:
- Inflammation
- Appetite control
- Extra energy during exercise
- To get extra fat and nutrients
MCT oil is an excellent addition to foods and drinks like smoothies, salad dressings, and coffee.
Health Benefits of MCT Oil
Although there are four different types of MCT, the most common type of MCT oil contains caprylic and capric acid. These can offer various health benefits like:
Can Promote Weight Loss
MCT oil can increase the hormones peptide YY and leptin, which promote the feeling of fullness. If you take just tablespoons of MCT in the morning, you’ll likely eat less food for lunch.
Additionally, MCT oil has fewer calories than LCT fats, which can reduce your overall body weight and waist circumference.
Provides a Good Energy Source
Remember, your body absorbs MCTs more rapidly than LCTs. Due to this, MCTs travel from your gut to your liver faster, so they don’t need as much bile to be broken down as LCTs do. Typically the fat in your liver is broken down and stored as body fat or used as fuel.
Since MCTs don’t need to be broken down the same way, they can immediately go to your cells to provide energy.
Can Reduce Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Because MCT can aid in weight loss, it can also reduce your risk of heart disease. MCT oil may also reduce cholesterol and inflammation in your body.
Adding MCT to Your Coffee
Overall, MCT is a healthy addition to your coffee that can boost energy levels throughout the day. You can also get MCT in powder form.
You’ll just need to add 1 to 2 teaspoons of MCT to your brewed coffee each morning.
The Good Stuff
If you can’t decide whether to add cinnamon, collagen, or MCT to your coffee, then The Good Stuff performance supplement is the answer for you.
The Good Stuff is a coffee supplement created by For Wellness. This supplement can promote focus, fight inflammation, and make your coffee taste delicious.
The Good Stuff contains supplement ingredients such as:
- Collagen
- L-theanine
- Coconut MCT
- Ceylon Cinnamon
- Himalayan Pink Salt
In addition to collagen, cinnamon, and MCT, L-theanine and Himalayan pink salt also have health benefits such as:
Benefits of L-theanine
Theanine is an amino acid that comes in two forms, L-theanine and D-theanine. L-theanine is the most common form of theanine. L-theanine is associated with improved cognition, mood, and reduced anxiety symptoms.
L-theanine occurs naturally in plant sources like mushrooms and black and green tea leaves.
When you pair L-theanine with coffee, it can help further increase attention and focus. It can also improve energy levels.
Benefits of Himalayan Pink Salt
Himalayan pink salt is found near the Himalayan mountains in South Asia and is easily recognized by its pink hue.
Although Himalayan pink salt is mined like rock salt, it’s actually sea salt. Sea salt is a healthier alternative to traditional table salt. Himalayan pink salt also contains less sodium than table salt and has trace elements of minerals such as:
- Calcium
- Iron
- Zinc
- Potassium
- Magnesium
Salt is commonly used for skin care conditions such as eczema, and salt therapy can improve respiratory health. Salt is essential for the body to maintain balanced hydration levels. You also need more salt before and after intense exercise.
Benefits of Using The Good Stuff Daily
All you need is a single scoop of The Good Stuff in your daily coffee. Due to the numerous healthy ingredients, you’ll experience benefits like:
- Reduced inflammation
- Increased energy
- Better focus
- Better hydration
- Improved skin health
The Good Stuff also has no artificial sweeteners, flavors, or colors. It’s dairy-free, gluten-free, preservative-free, and contains no GMOs.
Find the Best Supplements for Your Coffee
Now that you know some of the best supplements to add to your coffee, you’ll be able to replace your artificial sweeteners for good.
If you’re looking for high-quality, healthy, and nutritious supplements for your coffee, you can turn to For Wellness for your supplement needs. Our coffee supplement, The Good Stuff, can give you the boost you need with your morning coffee.
Be sure to check out our coffee bundle, which includes The Good Stuff, any coffee you choose, and a ceramic canister with a scoop.
