Naturopathy and coffee + 2 recipes with coffee

Naturopathy and coffee + 2 recipes with coffee

Welcome back. Living a healthy life has roots in the kitchen. This week we're focusing on a morning favorite - coffee. Many people don't think their day has started until they've enjoyed their first cup, but coffee has numerous health benefits. Let's find out together!

Coffee

For many, the day would feel incomplete without a cup of joe in the morning. As simple as they may seem, coffee beans are extraordinarily complex fruits, containing over 1,000 different compounds in each tiny package. (Link removed) Over two billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide every day. (link removed) French writer and philosopher Voltaire was said to have had a habit of drinking 40 to 50 cups a day! (link removed)

Before it became the popular morning drink today, coffee was historically consumed in other ways. Coffee, in its natural and unprocessed state, is a fruit that turns bright red when ripe. The famous coffee bean is actually the seed found in the center of the fruit. The fruit was previously combined with lard to form a type of snack bar, and it was also fermented in the past to make an alcoholic drink. (Link removed) Around 1000 AD, a drink made from bean and husk appeared. In the 1400s, people began roasting coffee beans - the first step in the process we know today. (link removed)

Where does coffee come from?

The discovery of coffee is attributed to an Ethiopian goatherd named Kaldi. Kaldi had sent his goats out to graze and when he found them they were jumping around and frolicking with energy. He noticed that they had been grazing on the red fruits of the coffee bush, so he decided to try the fruits himself. After consuming the fruit, he also noticed a similar reaction. A monk, who also witnessed the goats' behavior, brought some of the coffee fruits back to his monastery and shared them. He and his fellow monks were alert and awake for the evening prayer. (Link removed) It is likely that everyone was reacting to the caffeine content of the coffee fruit. Caffeine is a stimulant present in plants and acts as a natural pesticide. (link removed)

Although the quality and selection can vary greatly, coffee is available in almost every retail store. Health food stores are more likely to carry a variety of beans from different geographic regions around the world. Different regions provide growing conditions that contribute to the nuanced flavors of the beans. (Link removed) Coffee is one of the most heavily sprayed crops when it comes to pesticides and other chemicals. Therefore, choosing an organic variety is extremely important to avoid burdening the body with additional harmful chemicals. Coffee is also prone to mold, so it is best to consume freshly roasted and ground beans.

How does coffee help my health?

Coffee is a powerful source of antioxidants – in fact, coffee is believed to be the primary dietary source of antioxidants for many Americans. Hundreds of phytochemicals have been identified in raw coffee beans, while processing may produce even more. (Link removed) The average U.S. coffee drinker consumes 3.1 cups per day. (Link removed) However, research has shown that higher intake, in the range of three or more cups per day, may help prevent certain medical conditions. (Link removed) , (Link removed) Although coffee may increase blood pressure immediately after consumption, most research suggests a longer-term protective effect on cardiovascular health. In fact, daily coffee consumption for eight weeks has been shown to lower blood pressure. (Link removed) Other research has shown that regular coffee consumption can dampen inflammation, improve cholesterol profiles (specifically increase HDL or “good” cholesterol), and reduce coronary artery calcification. (link removed) , (link removed)

Beyond the cardiovascular system, coffee has also been shown to benefit the brain. A large study found that drinking one to four cups of coffee daily reduced the risk of Parkinson's disease by 47%, and adding a fifth cup reduced the risk by 60%. (Link removed) Research has also shown that consuming coffee compounds such as caffeic acid and caffeine can slow down several classes of enzymes responsible for neurodegenerative processes in the brain. (link removed)

What diseases/symptoms is coffee used for?

• Krebs
• Diabetes
• Demenz
• Leber erkrankung
• Vermindertes Sturzrisiko
• Reduziertes Risiko für Autoimmunerkrankungen
• Asthma

When should coffee be avoided?

The caffeine in coffee can have a negative impact on certain individuals and worsen certain health conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, headaches and high blood pressure. People with health concerns such as migraines (which can be caused by caffeine) or menstrual cramps may also need to avoid coffee. Decaffeinated coffee may be a good substitute for some. However, make sure that the methods used to decaffeinate the beans do not rely on chemical processing. Additionally, the acidic nature of coffee can cause or worsen stomach upset and various gastrointestinal disorders. Because coffee components such as caffeine are metabolized through specific liver enzyme pathways, individuals with slow liver detoxification may need to avoid coffee consumption.

Let's try coffee with these delicious and nutritious recipes!

Chocolate Mocha Overnight Oats

Ingredients

1/2 cup oatmeal
1/4 cup brewed coffee
1/2 cup unsweetened cashew or almond milk
1 tbsp organic maple syrup
1 tbsp raw cocoa powder
2 tbsp dark chocolate shavings (optional)
1/4 cup blackberries
Shaker bottle

preparation

1. Kaffee, Nussmilch, Ahornsirup und Kakaopulver in die Shakerflasche geben.
2. Zum Mischen der Zutaten schütteln.
3. Hafer hinzufügen und noch etwas schütteln.
4. Über Nacht im Kühlschrank lagern.
5. Top mit Beeren und dunklen Schokoladenspänen und genießen!

Carrots slowly baked on coffee beans

Ingredients

227g thin carrots (no thicker than 12 mm in diameter), peeled
1 tsp olive oil
1 small garlic clove, minced
Coarse sea salt and ground black pepper
1 cup medium roasted coffee beans, preferably without coffee

preparation

Preheat the oven to 225°.

Place a cast iron skillet over medium heat to heat for about 5 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the carrots, olive oil, and garlic and toss until the carrots are coated with oil and the garlic pieces are evenly distributed. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.

Add the coffee beans to the hot pan and remove from the heat. Shake until the coffee is aromatic and the beans look slightly oily, about 3 minutes. Scatter the carrots over the beans in a single layer and cover the pan with a lid or a sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Bake until carrots are forked and infused with coffee oil, 2 to 3 hours.

Lift the carrots from the bed of coffee beans and serve immediately. Throw away the coffee.