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Coffee Is Good for You

  • March 04, 2018

Good news if you enjoy your morning coffee! New research adds to a growing body of evidence showing that imbibing in a few cups of joe a day may just help you live longer. According to National Geographic, two to three cups is all it takes to lower your chances of circulatory and digestive diseases. The benefits are there whether it’s caffeinated or decaffeinated. In fact, higher coffee consumption was associated with a reduced risk of death from any cause — with this study being the most substantive one yet to support this claim.

I’m not a coffee drinker myself, but I know much of the world does enjoy this beverage as a morning wakeup or an afternoon pickup — or, just for the socialization of having a cup and good conversation with someone else. If you do like coffee, make sure it’s organic and shade-grown, and that you drink it black or with added coconut oil or MCT oil.

This is because the health potential of your coffee — as well as your tea, if you prefer tea — depends on several factors, beginning with quality. The chief reason for choosing organic is because nonorganic coffee is a heavily pesticide-sprayed crop.

Adding in coconut oil or medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil may also help you burn fat and improve your mitochondrial function. Start with a small amount, such as 1 teaspoon of MCT oil, working your way up to 1 or 2 tablespoons, to avoid gastrointestinal side effects. You can also blend in a pat of raw grass fed butter. This recipe is a favorite among those following a ketogenic diet. Without MCTs, you'd have to cut carbs more drastically in order to maintain ketosis, and hot coffee is an ideal carrier for MCT oil.