How do you start off your mornings? With a grande, double whip, half-caf, low fat, hazelnut mocha Frappuccino? Maybe just a simple latte with a single pump of vanilla? Maybe you’re a milk and two sugars kind of person…
It’s no secret that sugar is the enemy of weight loss. It is a form of carbohydrate and when consumed becomes quickly available to be converted to energy. But, if sugar calories are not used as energy shortly after they are consumed, they are converted into stored body fat by a process known as lipogenesis.
So is there a way to have your coffee and drink it too. If you want to keep things sweet but healthy here are a few tips.
Ideally the best way to make your morning cup of joe healthier is to try and drink it without sugar – even a little bit of added sugar adds up quickly over a week.
Now for some people the thought of drinking coffee without sugar is probably terrifying but don’t panic! There are more than a couple of ways you can sweeten your coffee.
Dates
Sweetening your coffee with dates also helps you get a little extra magnesium, fibre and vitamin B6. You can use a date paste or date sugar and experiment with it to find your desired sweetness.
Vanilla extract
Swap out your sugar laden vanilla syrup for natural and delicious vanilla extract. It might not sweeten your coffee like a syrup does but the incredible aroma is enough to make you forget all of that.
Honey
We all know that adding honey to a cup of tea is a great way to soothe a sore throat or help fight off a cold but have you ever tried it in your coffee? Not only is it delicious and sweet but the natural antibacterial properties are a serious added bonus.
Cinnamon
Adding a dash of cinnamon to your coffee can help bring out the natural flavours of the beans (plus it’s packed full of anti-inflammatory benefits).
Cacao powder
If you just can’t bare the thought of going a day without your mocha, then this one is for you! Use a touch of cacao powder to sweeten your coffee and give it an antioxidant boost.
So, whether you’re trying to reduce the amount of refined sugar in your diet for health reasons or because you are trying to lose weight, your daily cup of coffee is a great place to start cutting out empty calories.
Written by Lauren Jacobsen, Nutrition Director
