Millions of people around the globe rely on a hot morning coffee in order to get themselves started for the day ahead. As a race we have seemingly become dependent on the neuroactive compound that is caffeine in order to pull ourselves out of bed and make it through the day.
That would be worrying if it wasn’t the case that caffeine actually has a lot of health benefits and relatively few negative impacts to speak of (though there are one or two). Not only is it packed with antioxidants, but it may also be protective against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. It can also aid weight loss and of course it’s great for improving mental function and wakefulness in the short term.
The problem as far as I see it is that the coffee that most people start their day with could be better. There are plenty of ways to make coffee more effective and more delicious, and if we were only to improve the quality of that morning brew we might be able to improve the efficiency of a huge portion of the human race…
Thus I present to you a more effective way to drink your morning coffee for a delicious taste and fantastic health benefits. And it’s very simple…
The Process
- Brew your coffee as normal, but fill the mug only half way
- Fill the second half of the mug with coconut milk and stir heavily to get rid of any lumps
- Microwave for 30 seconds to heat the coconut milk
For those who like their self-improvement, this coffee probably looks very similar to the ‘Bulletproof Coffee’ recommended by Dave Asprey. In that coffee the instructions are to use a little MCT oil and a chunk of grass-fed butter. You can do either, but I believe that my version is a little quicker and a little more delicious.
Why It’s Great for Your Brain
So what’s so great about this coffee? Well other than the creamy and slightly sweet taste, you get to benefit from the many great effects that come from adding dietary fat (especially MCT fat) to your coffee.
First of all, it’s crucial to recognise the vital role that dietary fat of all kinds plays in your diet. Your brain is made up of 60% fat, so you need to get that fat in order to provide those building blocks. At the same time, fat is also a particularly good source of energy for the brain as it is released slowly into the blood unlike sugar from carbohydrates which causes a spike in blood sugar triggering an insulin response. If you rely on carbs for your energy then you’ll be constantly flipping between energy peaks and troughs which will greatly hamper your performance. Instead, use fats and you’ll slowly be provided with a more stable form of energy throughout the rest of the day.
Better yet though, coconut milk contains MCT fat, which stands for Medium Chain Triglycerides. This type of fat stimulates the liver to produce ‘ketones’ – a different energy source that the brain actually prefers for a number of functions and which won’t risk ‘burning out’ the brain in quite the same way as glucose.
On top of all that, because the fat in coconut milk is slow to digest, this will also slow down the release of caffeine into your system. This results in a much more gradual supply that will keep you alert for longer without the same jitteriness-the-crash that often comes from drinking coffee.
Other Benefits
Drinking coffee with coconut milk then can ensure you have a steady supply of energy throughout the day and all the fuel you could need to get things done. At the same time though, you’ll also find that you enjoy a number of other benefits once you start drinking this little concoction…
For starters, you may find that your cholesterol levels improve. Contrary to popular belief, drinking saturated fats actually does not result in an increase in LDL bad cholesterol. New studies demonstrate that it can actually have the precise opposite effect of improving cholesterol – it’s only trans fats used in frying fast food or preserving ready meals that really have a negative impact on cholesterol.
Furthermore, because saturated fat is slow to digest and releases energy gradually, this means you’re less likely to feel hungry throughout the day. This won’t cause an insulin spike because the sugar isn’t added to your blood quickly enough, and so you’ll generally find you feel fuller – which is great for your wellbeing and for helping a diet.
Try it and you won’t be disappointed!