Coffee drinks are one of the highlights of fall! But you may have noticed that with a few added ingredients, many coffee choices quickly turn them from beverages – to full-fledged desserts!
Looking for some guidance on how to keep these festive drinks a part of your seasonal fun without breaking your calorie budget? Then the information below will be so helpful. Hint: cinnamon in coffee is a great place to start!
We’ll dive into coffee – and tea, the nutrition benefits those beverages naturally provide, as well as ways to boost the flavor with extra ingredients. These natural flavors also provide a gut-healthy boost.
Specific, simple ideas are included, with ideas of what to order at your favorite coffee shop! So, let’s get started!
Coffee Health Benefits
On its own, coffee in moderation has been shown to be a smart addition to an overall healthy diet. For example, the latest research studies show that moderate coffee intake (2-3 cups a day) is associated with lower rates of cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s, Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. Furthermore, research has demonstrated positive changes in the gut microbiome with moderate coffee consumption.
Spices Impact On Gut Health
Simply put, what you consume impacts the community of microorganisms in your intestines positively or negatively. There is very little in between. Typical coffee drinks with a festive flair often include loads of added sugar and calories from syrups, full-fat milk and cream. These ingredients can cause digestive distress and actually cause inflammation in the gut. But, here’s some good news! When you add in certain flavors and spices to create wonderful fall flavors in your coffee, those same spices actually provide even more of a gut-friendly boost.
Let’s talk about what some delicious, anti-inflammatory spices are, and how adding them can make your fall beverage delicious – while supporting a healthy gut microbiome and keeping you feeling great.
Cinnamon In Coffee And Other Spices That Boost Gut Health
Beyond the coffee itself, adding fall spices that have an anti inflammatory effect can have a positive effect on gut microbiome. Because they are so flavorful on their own, infusing these spices into your coffee can leave you feeling festive, without the unwanted inflammation. Some of these spices include:
- Ginger
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom
- Allspice
Best Tea For Gut Health
Don’t limit yourself to Coffee! Tea is an excellent option, full of polyphenols and health benefits of its own. Some of the best options to consider include:
- Chai Tea – Full of antioxidants and gut-friendly variety of spices
- Green Tea – Contains antioxidants and linked to a multitude of health benefits, including anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties
- Matcha Tea – Provides all the benefits of green tea, and then some, as this earthy beverage consists of ground up tea leaves and has been linked to disease prevention
What To Order At The Coffee Shop
As a rule of thumb, you’ll have to look past the fancy holiday offerings and create your own beverage that you’ll feel great about. Here are some tips and tricks to make your order at the coffee bar festive, yet healthy.
- Swap out the dairy for oat milk for an extra boost of gut-healthy fiber.
- Make that latte a matcha!
- Order a plain coffee or latte and sprinkle your own cinnamon and ginger on top for a gut-friendly boost of flavor without the extra sugar.
- Order a spicy chai Tea with oat or almond milk.
At Home: Cinnamon In Your Coffee And Beyond
Spicing up your coffee at home gives you even more options and full control of the ingredients in your favorite beverage – not to mention the money you’ll save! Here are some tips for ways to include more gut-friendly spices to your coffee and tea.
- Sprinkle cinnamon and ginger in your coffee grounds before brewing to naturally infuse your coffee with gut-friendly spices and a light flavor boost.
- Make you own oat-milk lattes, flavored with cinnamon and ginger.
- Chai tea made at home can have far less sugar and a dose of gut-friendly spices. Recipe here.
- Sip green tea or a matcha tea latte.
- If choosing to swap out oat milk for dairy, be sure to choose a plain, unsweetened version to avoid extra sugar.
Festive holiday drinks don’t have to break your calorie bank! In fact, simple additions, like cinnamon in coffee can actually provide some pretty nice health benefits! Whether you’re ordering in the coffee shop or choosing what to brew at home, this should give you some ideas of healthy beverages when it comes to coffee – and even the best teas for gut health.
