This story has been updated since it was originally posted on 08/06/2021
If you love coffee, there’s nothing — or practically nothing — that can make your morning cup any better. Maybe a drop of milk, a milk alternative, or a teaspoon of sugar to sweeten things up puts a smile on your face, but the truth is: coffee on its own is pretty darn good. But if you’re looking for ways to make the most of your coffee in terms of health benefits, the best additives aren’t sugar, creamer, or dairy milk — they’re a few things you’d never expect. There’s a chance you already have these delicious ingredients in your pantry and they’ll add vitamins, minerals, and intense flavor to your cup of Joe.
To discover the best things you can add to your coffee every day to better your health and slow signs of aging, we spoke to health experts Brenda Peralta, a registered dietitian and consultant for Sensible Digs, Diana Gariglio-Clelland, a registered dietitian on staff for NextLuxury.com, and Lisa Richards, dietitian and author of The Candida Diet. Here are all of their recommendations:
Almond Butter
It’s creamy, sweet but not saccharine, and super nutritious: but it turns out almond butter is also an amazing ingredient for your cup of coffee, especially if you are looking for ways to boost your health. “It is high in omega-3, an essential fatty acid that has anti-inflammatory properties,” says Peralta. “It is also rich in vitamin E, a potent antioxidant that helps fight damage made by free radicals (they can make the skin look older). Try adding it to your coffee with some vanilla or cinnamon. Put it in the blender to create a smoothie-like beverage. You can have it hot or cold.”
Soy Milk
Maybe you’re not at the point in your coffee-drinking life where you’re ready to drop a dollop of almond butter into your cup of Joe. If you prefer a milk alternative, Peralta recommends soy milk to help prevent skin aging. “Soy has estrogen-like components that have some positive benefits for women,” Peralta says. “Some studies have found that women who incorporated soy into their diet improved skin and wrinkles. Add some soy milk to your coffee to get those benefits.”
Almond Milk
Just as almond butter can add a daily dose of Vitamin E and Omega-3 to your morning coffee, almond milk may be your new best friend when it come to anti-aging benefits. Plus, it makes a great replacement for those unhealthy creamers! "Consider switching your regular coffee creamer for almond milk for its anti-aging benefits," Richards suggests. "Making small changes like this towards anti-aging can add up quickly." She explains that the antioxidants and vitamins found in this milk "help to reduce oxidative stress in the body, which if allowed to persist, will not only show through our physical health internally but externally as well." Perfect! Just be sure to choose unsweetened varieties, since "added sugar will negate the beneficial properties of the almond milk itself."
Collagen
Another amazing coffee additive that you won’t even notice or taste is somewhat more modern, but is catching on big-time: collagen powder, which you can purchase online, at any health store, and even in many grocery stores.
“Adding powdered collagen is a great addition to coffee,” says Gariglio-Clelland. “Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body and is important for healthy skin, tendons, muscle and bones. Collagen dissolves easily in warm liquids, making it convenient to add to your coffee. Collagen powder is also rich in protein, helping your cup of coffee to be more filling. Protein-rich foods like collagen powder help reduce hunger cravings and will lower the likelihood of getting an upset stomach from drinking coffee on an empty stomach.”
Move over, milk and sugar. No matter which of the recommended coffee additives you feel like trying, they all have amazing health benefits that will boost the nutritional value of your cup.
