Coffee can set the stage for an energetic day ahead. A morning cup can help keep you alert, elevate your mood, and increase productivity while providing antioxidants and other plant compounds that may reduce internal inflammation while protecting against cardiovascular disease, Parkinson’s, diabetes and certain cancers.

However, how we consume coffee has an impactful influence on health. To maintain optimal results and ensure healthy beverages consumption here are some guidelines on how you can enjoy moderate coffee consumption in an eco-friendly manner. Here are a few suggestions on how you can do just that.

Choose High-Quality Beans

Selecting high-quality beans can have a dramatic impact on its flavor, nutritional value and health benefits. When purchasing coffee beans for consumption, choose organic to avoid exposure to synthetic pesticides and herbicides; choose lighter roasts so more polyphenols remain intact; purchase recently roasted beans as they have less oxidation which makes for richer flavors; try purchasing freshly-roasted ones which have reduced oxidation rates for increased flavor intensity.

Avoid Additives Sweeteners and creamers in coffee can add extra calories, sugar and fat – opt for black coffee instead or use an additive-free sweetener like Stevia or Monk Fruit to maintain a more nutritious cup.

Do It in Moderation

A 2022 study published in The Annals of Internal Medicine linked moderate coffee drinking with lower rates of mortality. The researchers observed the results from over half a million participants who tracked their diet and other health information over nine to eleven years.

Researchers found that those who drank two to four cups of unsweetened coffee daily had lower rates of total and heart-related deaths compared to those who didn’t drink any coffee whatsoever, as well as reduced risks of heart failure over time. Even after accounting for smoking, alcohol consumption, and overall health status variables, researchers still saw this association.

People who drank coffee first thing in the morning were more likely to experience its therapeutic benefits, likely because their bodies’ sympathetic activity, or stress response, often peaks early and gradually decreases throughout the day before reaching its lowest point in time for sleep.

However, this research did not account for every variable that could potentially alter outcomes. For example, participants could have differed in terms of age and gender, smoking habits or exercise frequency; additionally, groups were not randomly assigned – meaning someone might stop drinking coffee one day before starting again another – which would likely alter results, thus necessitating an actual randomized controlled trial to verify these findings.