While there’s a lot of mixed information out there about the health effects of coffee, many experts agree that a daily cup or two can be part of a healthy diet. In fact, some studies show that coffee can even help boost your metabolism and support healthy weight loss. However, the ingredients you add to your cup of joe play a crucial role in how beneficial–or detrimental–it can be to your health. While ingredients like sugar, creamer, artificial sweeteners, and more should be avoided as much as possible, especially if you’re trying to lose weight, there are a few ingredients that can make your coffee even healthier.
To discover the best spices you can add to your coffee in order to fight inflammation and shed some pounds, we spoke to Joanna Wen, health coach and founder of Spices & Greens, Trista Best, a nutritionist for Balance One Supplements, and Valeria Dolbel, registered nutritionist and founder of Beauty Diets. They told us that cinnamon and ginger are the best ingredients you can add to your coffee thanks to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Learn more below!
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Cinnamon
It turns out cinnamon can do more for your coffee than just add some delicious flavor to the mix–it can also help fight inflammation and aid weight loss. This tasty spice is actually packed with health benefits that can be especially helpful if you're trying to lose weight.
First of all, Best explains that cinnamon boasts anti-inflammatory properties thanks to its antioxidant content. "The plant compounds that act as antioxidants in the body stimulate the immune system and are also responsible for reducing inflammation by preventing clumping of blood platelets," she explains.
Additionally, adding cinnamon to your coffee can help suppress your appetite–and this is on top of the fact that caffeine is already a natural appetite suppressant! "Cinnamon can help reduce cravings and appetite by improving feelings of satiety and fullness," Best tells us, adding that "it also helps to stabilize glucose which can prevent highs and lows, which often lead to intense cravings and overeating." And when your cravings for processed foods are lowered and you can avoid chowing down on unhealthy snacks, you’ll be one step closer to a healthier body.
Dolbel points out that cinnamon, which she cites as one of the healthiest alternatives to sugar and inflammatory artificial sweeteners, can also play a role in boosting your metabolism. "Cinnamon is an excellent addition to your daily cup as it assists with "energy conversion and helps your metabolism to speed up," she tells us, noting that it "also improves the taste of your coffee."
Ginger
Ginger is a well-known spice with a plethora of health benefits, Wen points out. It's been used for centuries, she says, to aid in digestion and treat an inflamed stomach. "Ginger works by stimulating the production of digestive juices and easing inflammation in the gut," Wen explains, adding that this can help to break down food easier and eventually reduce bloating.
"What's more, ginger has been shown to boost metabolism and promote weight loss," she adds pointing out that this spice is also a "natural appetite suppressant that can keep you feeling full, and ultimately reduce your overall daily caloric intake."
Best agrees, and says that ginger is "unique to inflammation in that it contains compounds known as gingerols and shogaols." These compounds create an antioxidant effect in the body that detects free radicals from the body cells and prevents the damage caused by oxidation.
Simply adding up to one teaspoon of ginger to your morning pick-me-up can make a difference in stomach inflammation. Or, you can try making the traditional Yemeni ginger coffee drink called qishr. It isn't only spicy and delicious, but it can also aid in digestion.
So, whether you’re just looking for a way to add some sweetness to your coffee without loading up on the calories or you want to keep inflammation at bay, cinnamon, and ginger are always a great way to go. Why not add some of these spices to your next cup of joe?
