Every morning, you stumble down to the kitchen a bleary-eyed, groggy grump… But as soon as you chug down that a.m. fix? You’re ready to walk out the door with a big bounce in your step. And better yet, you also see a slew of health benefits every time you fill up your mug. Notable examples include improved heart health, increased longevity, and reduced risk of age-related cognitive decline. With this many benefits tagged to its consumption, it’s not difficult to see why asking for more from caffeine might appear nearly impossible.
Good news: it's not. There are several things you could tweak about your daily cuppa to get even more of a buzz (and health benefits!)
#1 – Give it some time before you caffeinate
The best time to give your body its first caffeine hit is not first thing in the morning but roughly an hour later. Why? Well, it has to do with your circadian rhythm. Your stress hormone cortisol (responsible for helping you feel awake and alert) is at its peak level in the morning. By drinking coffee in the morning when cortisol levels are high, what you're doing is decreasing the effectiveness of your caffeine hit – and worse, increasing your tolerance to it.
For an easy fix: wait at least an hour after waking up to have your first cup of coffee. That's when your cortisol levels are lower, and you'd actually benefit from the stimulating effects of caffeine.
#2 – Take it 15 to 60 minutes before your workout
It’s 4.58 p.m. You’ve just gotten off work – and after spending all day in front of the computer… You’re exhausted. But you want to work out. Ugh. This is where caffeine comes in handy. In addition to helping you shake off that dreaded fatigue, a caffeine jolt can also seriously boost your performance on the track, in the weights room, or even on the mat. Oh, plus, it appears to increase the amount of fat you burn during exercise by ramping up heat production and epinephrine.
So, the next time you have a workout session planned right after a gruelling workday? Be sure schedule in time for a pick-me-up; get it in anywhere between 15 to 60 minutes before your session, and you're gold.
#3 – Better yet, throw some superfoods into the mix
You've probably already heard of 'super foods' – foods that have been singled out for special recognition due to the crucial nutrients that power-pack your meals and further enhance a healthy eating pattern. The usual suspects?
- Coconut oil – Contains medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which have been shown to suppress appetite, support the immune system, and boost energy and brain function.
- Green coffee bean – Coffee beans that haven’t been roasted – and, therefore, still contain compounds known as chlorogenic acids that exert potent antioxidant effects, which can ultimately help lower blood pressure and boost weight loss efforts.
- Siberian ginseng – Also known as eleuthero, this Asian herb has been used for thousands of years as a healing remedy – and is known to boost energy, metabolism, and even physical performance. It also has positive effects on the immune system.
But let's be real. It's going to be super challenging for you to include these into your diet most of the time. Also… How are you supposed to consume these? Start gnawing on ginseng slices? Let’s not overthink it. Just add them to your caffeine fix – but in powder form.
Wait… How do I even do that? Plus, what about clumps?
We’ve done it for you. Lean Blend’s Superfood Infused ESPRESSO and LATTE is, well, exactly what it sounds like: the perfect blend of aromatic, energising premium arabica coffee with the above-listed superfoods (plus a few more!) This way, you never have to worry about clumps in your pick-me-up; just a silky-smooth experience every time. Bliss.
