I like coffee, but I can’t handle caffeine. It makes my heart beat too fast and I feel a little anxiety. Kind of weird. A local company, Utica Coffee, makes really good coffee, so once in a while I’ll drink a really weak cup of caffeinated or their decaf. Coffee can have mold, so I thought I would try a few different brands that are decaf, organic and mold tested. I tried one brand, NO FUN JO DECAF, and it instantly gave me brain fog. It was pretty weird, but reviews thought it contained gluten and/or caffeine. I’m currently working through a bag of Purity decaf. It’s a little pricy, but it’s supposed to be the top tier, clean coffee. I also like The Organic Coffee Co. Ground Coffee – Gorilla Decaf. It’s more affordable. They are both medium roasts. They both taste fine to me, but I’m no coffee expert.
There are health benefits to drinking coffee. These include helping reduce the risk of stroke, heart disease, diabetes and improve brain health.
Adding coconut oil to coffee offers additional health benefits. Coconut oil contains healthy fats called medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs). MCT’s don’t get stored in the body as fat like other fats. Instead, MCT’s go directly to the bloodstream where they can be used for energy. The MCT’s in the coffee can help improve metabolism, increase energy, raise HDL cholesterol levels. The fats bind to the caffeine in the coffee and provide a slow and steady stream of energy. Coconut oil is the highest natural source of lauric acid which is antiviral and antibacterial and helps suppress hunger. Coconut oil may help improve blood sugar, improve digestion and gut health.
The one thing I’ve noticed with adding coconut oil to coffee is it makes my brain feel more focused and clear thinking. It may have increased my energy, not sure, but there was definitely not any crashes. My energy level is pretty even.
So far, I’ve only used a teaspoon, but up to 2 tablespoons is recommended. It’s also recommended to only drink it once per day to avoid digestive issues.
It’s also recommended to blend the coffee with coconut oil in a blender or with a handheld immersion blender. Otherwise the coconut oil just sits on top of the coffee. Blending it will make the coffee frothy. I haven’t tried that. I just stir it in with a spoon, but it still mostly sits on top of the coffee. It doesn’t bother me though.
There are 2 types of coconut oil, refined which is more processed and unrefined called virgin. Unrefined has a stronger coconut taste. I usually just use Aldi brand coconut oil. It’s an organic, cold pressed, virgin coconut oil. I’ve also used the Spectrum brand.
One thing to note, coffee is addictive due to the high caffeine content, so start off slow or use decaf if you aren’t normally a coffee drinker and want to give it a try.
Challenge:
If you are a coffee drinker, drop a spoonful of coconut oil into a cup of coffee. Try it for a week and see if you notice any benefits.
Resources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coconut-oil-in-coffee#dosage
https://www.onnit.com/academy/coconut-oil-in-coffee-benefits/
https://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/coconut-oil-in-coffee