Can’t Live Without Your Morning Cup? Here are 6 Ways to Make Your Coffee Habit Healthier

Yep, you loooove coffee. But does it love you back? The jittery, cortisol-spiking stuff can sometimes wreak havoc on our hormones (hello, extra stress and anxiety), but I’m happy to report that there are several simple ways to counteract those crazy caffeine spirals and to boost the nutrient density of your cup, effectively morphing your morning mocha into more of a superfood. Here are a slew of stir-ins and other healthy coffee hacks to revamp your a.m. brew.

1. Keep calm with coconut butter: Brimming with antioxidants, coffee acts as a potent stimulant that can boost focus, improve concentration and even enhance your mood. But there can also (always) be too much of a good thing: Excess caffeine can surge the stress hormones—not to mention it’s highly addictive. One way to counteract the crazy jitters? Stirring in a spoonful of coconut butter, aka coconut manna. A combo of coconut oil and coconut meat, the nut-butter cousin is an easy way to bulk up your brew, get some grounded energy, and add a dose of healthy fat, fiber, and minerals to your cuppa. Combine 2 tablespoons with 8 ounces of hot coffee in a blender and blitz until smooth and frothy.

2. Opt for organic: Maybe your fave office perk is the new Keurig, or perhaps you’re on a first-name basis with the baristas at your neighborhood Starbucks. Wherever you get your morning fix, take a moment to check out the quality. Namely, is it organic? Coffee plants that have been sprayed with pesticides can leach harmful, super-concentrated chemicals into your cup, which, scarily enough, eventually end up in the body’s fat stores. Additionally, conventional (non-organic) coffee has a lesser nutrient profile than its certified organic counterpart, which has more vitamins and antioxidants intact to help protect cells from damage and boost immunity.

3. Leave room for oat milk: Don’t get us wrong, we love a milky latte as much as the next girl, but sometimes all that dairy just makes us feel heavy and bloaty. Enter oat milk, which froths up like a dream, feels light and airy, and bonus: is allergen-free. Benefits also include a little fiber, fat, and protein, and it’s often found fortified with vitamins A, D, B12, and calcium. Ask your local café if they carry it; it’s also pretty easy to DIY at home.

4. Power up with collagen powder: Step aside, smoothies: turns out, you can boost the protein profile of your cup by swirling in a teaspoon of collagen powder (which is great for skin elasticity and joint health, too!). If you’re the type who subsists on coffee alone for breakfast, this is a stellar way to fuel up without food. Formed of collagen peptides, which are easily soluble in water and readily absorbed into the bloodstream, it’s basically tasteless and dissolves quickly. Looking for a collagen source and (dairy-free) creamer in-one? Vital Proteins has your back.

5. Boost brainpower with mushrooms: Sure, it sounds crazy, but mushroom coffee is totally having a moment. Adding a little chaga, cordyceps or lion’s mane to your regular joe is a brilliant way to get a serious brain boost. Known for increasing productivity, enhancing creativity, and improving focus, these medicinal mushrooms lend an earthy taste and an even energy to your busiest days. Try the cute travel-size packets from Four Sigmatic.

6. Dive into decaf: If you’re starting to crave that second, third or fourth cup each day, you might need to slowly step back and re-sensitize yourself to caffeine. The best method? Going decaf for a week. It’s not nearly as tough as it sounds thanks to Teeccino, a delightfully caffeine-free herbal coffee made from roasted chicory root, barley and carob. It’s actually insane how similar this mineral-rich tea formula tastes like our fave cup of joe. You might not even miss it!

Are you a die-hard coffee drinker? Tell all in the comments!