International Coffee Day: 5 Tricks To Make Your Morning Coffee Healthier

October 1 is celebrated as the International Coffee Day all over the world. Back in 2015, the International Coffee Organization decided on October 1 as the day to celebrate this delicious caffeinated beverage. Some of us have coffee in the morning; coffee while catching up with old friends; going for coffee with business associates or simply when you feel a bit low. Coffee is undoubtedly one of the all-time favourite caffeinated beverage.

The beverage is not just a great energizer, but it also boasts a number of health benefits. Many people enjoy coffee in the morning. For some, it is the go-to drink which gives them the required kick to move ahead with the day. As far as coffee intake is checked and done in limited amounts, coffee can be helpful in many ways. In one of our previous articles, we talked about how celebrity nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar talks about having tea or coffee is perfectly healthy for the body, as far as you don't drink them first thing in the morning and don't combine them with packaged foods like biscuits or namkeen. But apart from these few steps, there are other ways which can help in making your morning coffee healthier.

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Add less sugar to your morning coffee to make it healthier
Photo Credit: iStock

Read below to know a few tricks which can help in making your morning coffee healthier

1. Drink water first

Before you go ahead with drinking the first cup of coffee, make sure you drink water first. While caffeine is a diuretic which triggers loss of fluid, its consistent intake can have a dehydrating effect on the body. Many people who begin their day with drinking coffee end up not drinking enough water by the end of the day. Make drinking water a regular habit every day when you wake up. It will help in maintaining your hydration levels.
 

Drink water before your morning coffee to prevent dehydration
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Also read: Green Coffee For Weight Loss: Here's How It Can Help You Lose Weight

2. Use healthier alternatives of milk

You can opt for plant-based milk in order to make your coffee healthier. Plant-based milk is healthier and can even help in weight loss. You can opt for almond milk, coconut milk or cashew milk. These variants of milk have fewer calories and are ideal for those who have taken up veganism or are lactose intolerant.

Opt for healthier varieties of milk in order to make your coffee healthier
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Also read: 7 Amazing Health Benefits Of Black Coffee

3. Reduce sugar

Almost all nutritionists and dietitians say that sugar is nothing but empty calories. The American Heart Association recommends 6 tsp of sugar every day is safe for women. This does leave room for some sugar in your coffee but avoid its intake as much as possible. Use a smaller spoon for adding sugar or half the amount of sugar you are currently adding. In case you are using a pre-sweetened milk or creamer, skip adding sugar.
 

Cut down on sugar in order to make your coffee healthier
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Also read: Rujuta Diwekar Explains How Many Cups Of Tea Or Coffee You Should Have In A Day And Why

4. Avoid artificial sweeteners

While artificial sweeteners have fewer calories, they can increase sugar cravings, which can have numerous negative effects on the body. Cut down on your intake of sugar and avoid artificial sweeteners in your coffee. Adjust to unsweetened coffee as a healthier alternative.
 

Avoid artificial sweeteners in your coffee
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5. Add a variety of spices

You can add some spices to your coffee in order to make it healthier and even tastier. Ginger, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are some spices which you can add to your morning coffee in order to make it healthier and definitely tastier. Adding these spices in your coffee can add up to your intake of antioxidants. A spice like cinnamon can help in regulating blood sugar and insulin.
 

Add a variety of spices to your coffee to make it healthier and tastier
Photo Credit: iStock

Try these tricks and make your morning coffee healthier!

Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.