On a journey of financial, physical and mental health, I like to find ways to combine and compound efforts. What about harnessing the health benefits of coffee?
Especially these days as we manage market turbulence and asset values depreciating. This brings us to our enjoyment of a good cup of coffee with a friend or family member. If done right, there are amazing health and financial effects.
Personal finance bloggers are supposed to say “Never go to Starbucks and don’t buy avocado toast!” I actually happen to like going to Starbucks SOMETIMES and I enjoy a good avocado toast (but I make that at home)!
Certainly do not go every day, that would be a waste of money. I also like buying shares of SBUX so I can use the dividends to buy the coffee. Jerry bought enough Starbucks stock to buy his coffee from the dividends, he is clever like that.
Another good cost savings trick is to share with a friend! But let’s focus on the coffee part of the equation, turns out it is a wonderful substance to consume for our health if we do it right. We should be thinking coffee with minimal cream and sugar in order to not negate the health benefits. The ideal is a coffee perhaps with a shot of milk. We are not talking about those milkshake coffee drinks!
In other words, LIFE CAN BE A GRIND, Buy a Starbucks with a friend!
Studies have shown that when people take a coffee break with coworkers stress levels go down. I have said it before, it is generally a nice relaxing atmosphere and a mental or social break.
My favorite Dutch Brothers mug for home brew.
6 Health Benefits of Coffee ☕️
- A large European study found that people who drank coffee each day were 7-12% less likely to pass away prematurely.
- Depression. 15-20% reduction in cases of depression for coffee drinkers. Again, low sugar, we are not talking Frappuccino’s!
- Cognitive Decline. Coffee drinkers are 16-20% less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s or other cognitive decline.
- Cancer. One study showed that 3 or more cups each day was associated with an 18% reduced risk of cancer.
- Heart Disease is one of the biggest killers in America. Studies have shown that coffee drinkers have a 19% less likely chance of dying from cardiovascular disease.
- Overall coffee drinkers show a 7% reduction in overall mortality.
FOR MORE CHECK OUT: IS COFFEE A PURE SUBSTANCE AND 4 BENEFITS OF DRINKING IT
FROM KAISER HEALTH, MORE WAYS TO MAKE COFFEE HEALTHIER
From that first cup in the morning to the occasional afternoon treat, coffee is a beloved and popular drink. In fact, Americans now drink more coffee than ever. Coffee consumption is up by 5% since 2015 — and 62% of Americans drink coffee every day.1 Its popularity has even spilled into internet culture with the trendy saying, “But first, coffee.”
Drinking coffee and tea has also been linked to a range of health benefits for the brain, lungs, liver, metabolism, and more.2 But what happens when we add too much milk, cream, or sweetener? A coffee drink loaded with sugar and calories can turn into an unhealthy beverage choice. The good news is you can still have your coffee and make it healthy.
To help get new ideas brewing, Sean Hashmi, MD, physician and regional director of weight management and clinical nutrition for Kaiser Permanente Southern California, shares these recommendations on how to drink your coffee — and feel good about it.
Drink it black
The healthiest way to drink coffee is plain with nothing added — also known as drinking it black. Dr. Hashmi explains, “Ideally, you shouldn’t put sugar in your coffee. If you train your taste buds to have your coffee sweetened, you’ll crave that sweetness like an addiction.” We know that when it comes to sugar and sweeteners, less is always best.
Try plant-based milks
If you’re adding milk to your coffee, unsweetened plant-based milks usually have less sugar than regular cow’s milk. “Replacing dairy milk with a nut-based milk is a healthy habit that can reduce saturated fats than can cause issues like heart disease and diabetes,” says Dr. Hashmi.
Spice it up
There are some spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cacao, and ginger that have a natural sweetness and flavor to them. You can add them to your coffee grounds before brewing or sprinkle them directly in your cup for a change of taste. For another buzz-worthy recipe, try making your own cold brew coffee. Brewing at a lower temperature can give you a smooth coffee that’s lower in acidity and bitterness.
Turmeric
Tumeric is another spice that can add extra health benefits to the coffee. The trick though is that tumeric has to be paired with a dash of pepper for the body to absorb it properly. Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory. Keeping inflammation down in the body appears to be a key strategy in preserving long term health.
Consider the caffeine
The maximum recommended amount of caffeine per day is 400 milligrams, which is about 4 cups of brewed coffee. So, if you’re drinking more than 4 cups of coffee per day, you should try a combination of caffeinated and decaffeinated. Keep in mind some coffee shop drinks have more than 1 cup per serving, depending on the size. Dr. Hashmi says, “It’s also a good idea to avoid caffeinated beverages after 10 a.m. Consuming caffeine throughout the day can lead to a jittery feeling or sleep issues at night.”
Be good to your body
Dr. Hashmi explains, “There are many benefits to drinking coffee, but you have to be mindful about how you drink it. When it comes to nutrition, I like to think that what you put in your body must have a good ROI (return on investment). If you don’t get anything nutritious out of it, it’s not worth your time.”
FROM CNN Health
Drinking up to three or four cups of caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee a day reduces your risk of developing and dying from chronic liver diseases, a new study found.
Coffee drinkers were 21% less likely to develop chronic liver disease, 20% less likely to develop chronic or fatty liver disease, and 49% less likely to die from chronic liver disease than non-coffee drinkers, according to the study published Monday in the journal BMC Public Health.“Coffee is widely accessible, and the benefits we see from our study may mean it could offer a potential preventative treatment for chronic liver disease,” said study author Dr. Oliver Kennedy, who is on the medical faculty of the University of Southampton in the UK, in a statement.
Starbucks Stock, Mocha Dividends
SBUX has been re inventing itself lately, as every great company typically must do to adapt to changing times.
The future growth in the company probably relies on outside the U.S. markets. China is the company’s second largest market and shows potential for expansion. They recently entered India, a large population market with growth potential. Europe is the company’s weakest region probably because the coffee culture is so well established and wonderful there, although they just opened a luxury store in Milan, oh wow!
So we are going against conventional wisdom. Financial gurus love financial sins so they can wave their fingers at us wasteful people. I mean don’t go overboard here. I would not go every day and I won’t order a mocha milkshake. But going once a week with a close friend could be time well invested.