We all know someone who says they cannot live without coffee. Is it you? Your friend? Your significant other? Well, I'm sure you know someone who would appreciate this keto-friendly coffee. It is easy to make and actually really tasty! Without all the nasties like sugar and processed creamers, you can actually enjoy the flavor of delicious coffee with the kick of brainpower abilities!
That's right! Brainpower coffee! Am I talking about the caffeine? Nope. Healthy fats, actually! Our brains are made up of mostly fat so when you think about what foods help support brain function, eating more fat just makes sense. Here is a list of ingredients and the benefits of each one to put in your keto-friendly coffee!
Recipe at the bottom
COFFEE
Some people may think coffee is coffee. Cheap or not, it tastes the same. BUT, if you just sample coffees with the intention to pick out the flavor notes in it, you'll fine-tune what specific type of coffee you'll like best. Light, medium, dark roasts can come from all different parts of the country that affect the flavor of the coffee. Explore the different coffees out there and remember to always support Fair-Trade and Organic farms because the standards are much higher versus Folgers coffee. (You'll avoid a bunch of chemicals in the coffee this way.)
MCT OIL
MCT stands for medium-chain triglycerides. There are 3 different lengths of triglycerides: short, medium, and long. The easiest one to digest would be the medium-chain triglycerides. Most commonly found in coconut oil, you can easily find pure MCT oil in any natural foods store.
MCTs help with brain function, as your brain learns to produce ketones for energy, rather than glucose by eating higher fat and lower-carb diet. Ketosis is a fat-burning state where the fewer carbs you eat, the body begins to burn the fat stored on your body for energy. When your brain produces ketones, your brain functions with more alertness, calmness, and more energy to do day to day things. How cool is that?!
GRASS-FED GHEE or BUTTER
Ghee is a type of butter that has been clarified meaning that all the milk solids and water have been removed. Leaving you with a more concentrated, more flavorful butter. Ghee has both short-chain and medium-chain triglycerides that are essential for many functions in the body, including the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E, and K. It also plays a role in regulating hormones and can reduce inflammation in the gut. The short-chain triglyceride in ghee is called butyric acid. It acts as a detoxifier that helps improve gut health.
Ghee is typically more expensive than regular butter but that is okay. As long as you make sure to buy grass-fed. Grass-fed butter and ghee have far more health benefits compared to conventional dairy products. Conventional dairy products are highly processed and come from animals that live in horrible conditions. Do your research to make sure you are buying the best because your health depends on it.
COLLAGEN PEPTIDES
We all want healthier skin, hair, and nails right? But did you know collagen is also amazing on the gut as well?! Collagen is a vital protein essential for skin, hair, nails, gut, joints, cartilage, tendons, and bones. Basically the whole human body is made up of collagen.
There are a few different types of collagen: Type 1, 2, and 3 (plus a ton more). These three different types of collagen specialize in different roles in the body. Our bodies can make Type 1 collagen with a healthy diet. As we get older, our bodies slow down that process of collagen production due to too many factors as we get older. It is important to know which collagens you want to start supplementing.
Type 1: As mentioned before, type 1 is actually made in the body but you can also find most collagen supplements are type 1 as well. Type 1 is great for hair, skin, nails, bones, tendons, and organs. Now you have to make sure that the quality of the supplement is good because they are not regulated by the FDA. You can check the labels for third party testing; this ensures a higher level of quality.
Type 2: The second type is great for cartilage and joints. If you're more focused on improving your joint health, be sure to do your research if the collagen is actually beneficial to cartilage and joint health. Otherwise, you'll most likely be buying type 1 collagen.
Type 3: Alongside Type 1 collagen is Type 3. It is also made in the body and crucial for healing the gut and to improve the elasticity of the skin.
CINNAMON
Cinnamon is a wonderful spice that can really enhance the flavor of the coffee. When you consume cinnamon, you are helping your body control your blood sugar and is loaded with antioxidants to help fight free-radicals (cancer-causing) in your body. When you can, try to buy the true cinnamon called Ceylon, not Cassia.
Most cinnamon in the U.S is of the Cassia variety which still has all the wonderful health benefits, but daily intake can be harsh on the liver, especially those who already have pre-existing liver issues. Ceylon is a little sweeter but doesn't have the same effect on the liver like cassia cinnamon does. Ceylon is typically harder to find in stores and is a little more expensive, so if you consume cinnamon on a daily basis, consider switching to Ceylon cinnamon.
Recipe at the bottom
OTHER OPTIONS
You can enjoy other types of healthy fats to put in your coffee, these are just a few that I enjoy in my coffee every day. I actually change it up often to keep things exciting! Here are a few more healthy fats you can enjoy in your coffee.
Coconut cream from a can
Coconut milk from a can
Grass-fed heavy whipping cream
Grass-fed half-n-half
Tasty Keto-Friendly Coffee
Ingredients:
16 oz. Brewed Coffee
1 Tsp. Grass-Fed Ghee or Butter
1 Tbsp. MCT Oil
1 Scoop Collagen Peptides
A Dash of Cinnamon
Directions:
Brew 16 oz of coffee with your desired coffee maker. Set aside your mug. Place all ingredients in a larger cup. Pour the hot coffee in the larger cup and then use a hand mixer to make a frothy consistency. Pour your frothy coffee in your mug and enjoy!