Want to do something healthy? Have a cup of coffee!

Oct 17th, 2010 Posted in Coffee and Health, Coffee Making, Coffee Recipes, Gourmet Coffee | No Comments »

Why is it that everything that tastes good seems to be bad for our health?  While there is little hope for old favorites like pizza, sodas , and fried-anything…we now know that some of our favorite “guilty pleasures” are actually good for us.  Wine and dark chocolate are so good for you that they’re practically medicinal (don’t get carried away though!).
While most of us don’t have wine and dark chocolate everyday, we do indulge daily in another vice-turned-health food…coffee.
A cup of cancer-fighting, antioxidant rich, fiber supplying super-fuel: How to make coffee work for you!

Well it’s really pretty simple…you just drink it!  More and more evidence suggests that moderate coffee consumption (a few cups a day) can help fight off or prevent Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, liver disease, skin cancer, Parkinson’s disease and much more.  It has a positive result on cognitive abilities and physical performance.  Green tea is always on everyone’s list of top health foods because of it contains a ton of disease fighting antioxidants.   But cup for cup, coffee actually has 4x the amount of antioxidants as green tea!  Add to this an average of 1.5 grams of fiber for every 8 oz’s of coffee and you really do have an extraordinary drink.

Disclaimer:  Not all coffee drinks are created equal.  Just because it has coffee in it does NOT make it healthy.   For instance, Starbucks Venti White Chocolate Mocha contains 580 calories, 22g’s of fat, and 75g’s of sugar.  That is seriously like eating half a dozen doughnuts!   Use your head, and drink real coffee for coffees sake!

Because we’re so excited about the health benefits of our favorite “guilty” pleasure, we’ve decided to share some ways to prepare it that you may never have tried.

How to make coffee drinks: 3 recipes to try.

Cafe con Miel

Honey has a wonderful flavour, as well as adding some natural sweetness to your cup of coffee. It doesn’t take much to change the whole feeling of your cup.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups hot coffee
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 4 tbs honey
  • 1/8 tsp cinnamon

Preparation:

Heat everything until warm, but not boiling. Stir well to dissolve the honey, and serve.

Mediterranean Coffee

The anise and orange add a noticeable tropical flavour to this wonderful coffee drink.

Ingredients:

  • 3 tbs coarse ground coffee
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp cocoa
  • 1 tsp anise seed
  • pinch of dried orange peel

Preparation:

Combine ingredients, and brew by your favorite method. Using a french press is traditional for this coffee recipe.

Arabian Coffee

A lightly spiced coffee made traditionally , without any filtering. It takes a bit of practice to serve unfiltered coffee while keeping the grounds in the pot.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pint water
  • 3 tbs ground coffee
  • 3 tbs sugar
  • 1/4 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp cardamom
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Preparation:

Heat all ingredients in a saucepan until foam starts to form on top. Serve immediately. To keep it traditional, don’t pour coffee through a filter.

The healthiest way to take your coffee is a fresh, plain black cup…which happens to be our favorite. So although our daily choice of brew is still most likely to be a cup of strong black coffee with a little cream, we often enjoy one of the recipes above.  After all, we love coffee for the smell, the taste, the feeling, and the whole experience.  That it happens to be good for us?  Well, we’ll drink to that!

Ganoderma Lucidum Coffee Rocks.

Jul 4th, 2010 Posted in Coffee and Health | No Comments »

Many people throughout the world fall victim to a disease called diabetes . The general definition of diabetes is described as the body’s inability to process blood sugar in an effective way. There are many medications, such as insulin or prescription pills, that sufferers can utilize to offset the side effects that uncontrolled diabetes can cause a person. Even with the access of prescription medications,  many sufferers of the disease have elected to find different means to control their diabetes symptoms by more natural methods.  Read about some benefits of coffee.

One such natural method is the use of ganoderma for the treatment of diabetes symptoms. Ganoderma Lucidum is a natural organic herb. Also known by other names such as Reishi or Lingzhi, Ganoderma Lucidum is a fungus grown from rotten wood. Derived from Chinese medicine, the fungus is known for its healing properties. In addition, Ganoderma Lucidum assists with better circulation, nervous system, and immune system function, which makes it a perfect  tool to help combat chronic conditions such as diabetes.

A well known treatment for lowering blood sugar levels of sufferers is ganoderma lucidum coffee. Ganoderma Lucidum can serve as an insulin substitute for insulin-dependent diabetics. Since Ganoderma Lucidum is known to assist with overall improved health of the body, it also eliminates many of the known complications that a person with diabetes might have to contend with over time.

One of the most common ailments that diabetes sufferers contend with is poor circulation and neurological issues . People diagnosed with diabetes commonly suffer from poor circulation which of course feeds neurological pain or numbness. This medical issue is a direct result of diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy is caused because of injury caused to blood vessels that provide blood sources to neurological paths.

This phenomenon can affect all of the peripheral nerves in the body, which is why diabetics who aren’t in control of their diabetes often lose sensation. This is also a direct cause of body part amputations, such as feet, being a prime example. In addition, since the body has poor circulation, the diabetic often doesn’t heal as well as a person without the disease because this lack of circulation decreases the ability to heal productively.
In fact, not only can Ganoderma Lucidum  be used as an insulin replacement; it can often help a diabetes sufferer to regain functionality of their pancreas, which is part of what causes diabetes in the first place.

This naturally occurring fungus has been shown to cure some of the effects of renal disease, which is an unfortunate side effect of diabetes. In addition to these attributes, Ganoderma Lucidum has been shown to also combat such ailments as hypertension, high blood pressure, ulcers, strokes, and impotence; which are all side effects of not only diabetes itself, but also some of the medications prescribed to control diabetes. It is in this way that Ganoderma Lucidum not only helps to control, combat, and on some level cure diabetes, but also assists in improving the overall health of the person ingesting it.

Want a clean bill of health, and to lower your blood sugar, take herbs such as Ganoderma Lucidum. Derived from China, Ganoderma Lucidum has long been used in the aid of complete health and body function, either alone or in conjunction with other natural holistic herbs and supplements.

Ganoderma can be taken as a daily herbal supplement and can also be found in some food and beverages such as hot chocolate, coffees, and teas. Ganoderma Lucidum can be used in addition to prescription drugs, in correlation with other herbal remedies, or by itself, to promote increased function and well being in not only diabetics but in everyday people wishing to pursue a healthier lifestyle.