After testing this simple morning coffee recipe for many months, and enjoying its benefits, I am ready to reveal it to the masses (or the couple of people who accidently stumble across this blog :) ).
First off, I love having a morning cup or two of coffee. I did not start drinking coffee until I was in my thirties and my kids came along. Before then, I drank copious amounts of juice and soda in the morning, fueling my body with massive amounts of sugar which would ultimately end in an energy crash. I eventually got off the sugary drinks and switched to black coffee. A positive change, I must admit.
I always drink coffee upon waking and before breakfast. I started noticing that after a cup or two, I would feel anxious and sometimes irritable. Then I started learning more about the positive benefits of certain fats, and read about people who make various drink concoctions incorporating fats. So I began to experiment myself.
I had been intrigued by the benefits of coconut oil for some time due to its natural medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), a fancy term for a certain type of fat that the human body and brain can readily use as a fuel. I had also been using more natural butter in my cooking, and liked the way it tasted and made me feel. Butter also contains some natural MCTs. So I decided to mix these two healthy fats into my coffee.
As it turns out, I love the taste and I feel better than ever in the morning after drinking it. I get the caffeine boost, but without the jitters, anxiety, and irritability that I experienced before with just black coffee. I can think more clearly, and my morning hunger is suppressed. Overall, I feel a morning dose of coconut oil has decreased my general anxiety as much, if not more, than any other strategy I have tried. Hopefully I will expand on this in a future blog post...
After some tweaking here and there, following is my now standard recipe....
8 to 12 ounces of fresh brewed, hot, black coffee
Approximately 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil
Approximately 1/2 teaspoon (about a half a pat) of unsalted butter
Stir vigorously, preferably with a battery-powered latte aerator
Heat up a little if necessary, either with more hot coffee or in the microwave
Drink up and enjoy!
First off, I love having a morning cup or two of coffee. I did not start drinking coffee until I was in my thirties and my kids came along. Before then, I drank copious amounts of juice and soda in the morning, fueling my body with massive amounts of sugar which would ultimately end in an energy crash. I eventually got off the sugary drinks and switched to black coffee. A positive change, I must admit.
I always drink coffee upon waking and before breakfast. I started noticing that after a cup or two, I would feel anxious and sometimes irritable. Then I started learning more about the positive benefits of certain fats, and read about people who make various drink concoctions incorporating fats. So I began to experiment myself.
I had been intrigued by the benefits of coconut oil for some time due to its natural medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), a fancy term for a certain type of fat that the human body and brain can readily use as a fuel. I had also been using more natural butter in my cooking, and liked the way it tasted and made me feel. Butter also contains some natural MCTs. So I decided to mix these two healthy fats into my coffee.
As it turns out, I love the taste and I feel better than ever in the morning after drinking it. I get the caffeine boost, but without the jitters, anxiety, and irritability that I experienced before with just black coffee. I can think more clearly, and my morning hunger is suppressed. Overall, I feel a morning dose of coconut oil has decreased my general anxiety as much, if not more, than any other strategy I have tried. Hopefully I will expand on this in a future blog post...
After some tweaking here and there, following is my now standard recipe....
8 to 12 ounces of fresh brewed, hot, black coffee
Approximately 1/2 to 1 tablespoon of extra virgin coconut oil
Approximately 1/2 teaspoon (about a half a pat) of unsalted butter
Stir vigorously, preferably with a battery-powered latte aerator
Heat up a little if necessary, either with more hot coffee or in the microwave
Drink up and enjoy!