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Recipe: Protein iced coffee
This protein iced coffee makes a great pre- or post-exercise drink with all the benefits of coffee and protein in one tasty beverage. As seen in the article Coffee and health, coffee may improve many aspects of health. When it comes to exercise, these potential benefits including metabolic, bone and neurological health. While a cup of coffee usually doesn’t contain enough caffeine to enhance athletic performance, it can certainly increase your alertness before a workout. It also has the potential to help with post-exercise muscle glycogen recovery. This recipe uses both milk and protein powder to achieve a great combination of protein content and taste. The protein will help counteract…
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Coffee and health
Uncover the intricate relationship between coffee and health in our in-depth exploration of the brew’s impact on well-being. What is coffee? Depending on the person, coffee can be a necessity, a ritual, a social lubricant, or a crutch. Coffee can be a source of income for some and a budget drain for others. But what does the dictionary say? coffee (noun) 1a: a beverage made by percolation, infusion, or decoction from the roasted and ground seeds of a coffee plant b: any of several Old World tropical plants (genus Coffea and especially C. arabica and C. canephora) of the madder family that are widely cultivated in warm regions for their seeds…
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Will coffee dehydrate you?
Will coffee dehydrate you? If you are concerned about the detrimental effects of coffee on your hydration status, this article is for you. Definitions How much caffeine is in coffee? The amount of caffeine in coffee drinks is highly variable. For example, the following have been found to affect how much caffeine is in brewed coffee: species (i.e. Robusta vs Arabica), temperature of brewing water, coffee to water ratio, volume of coffee drink, origin of coffee beans and method of growing, among other factors (4). The table below shows some averages based on Australian data (5): However, actual values in your coffee can be all over the place. For example,…
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Caffeine and performance
Caffeine is a known ergogenic (i.e. performance-enhancing) substance used by many athletes participating in various disciplines. But does it work for all types of exercise? What are the mechanisms behind caffeine and performance? How does it impact health? Caffeine as a supplement Caffeine is an alkaloid present in plants such as coffee that acts as an stimulant. The form commonly used as a sports supplement is called anhydrous caffeine and comes in various presentations, including pills, powders, gums, gels and liquids. It can also be consumed in the form of coffee or tea, although this makes it difficult to figure the exact amount of the active compound. Endurance sports Researchers…
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What’s in your coffee shop beverage?
Australians love their coffee, although not as much as several Nordic and European countries (we didn’t make the list of top 20 coffee drinking countries in 2017). Australia is also a big consumer of tea, ranking #13 according to the same source. From the results of the latest Australian Health Survey (2011-12), 53.6% of women and 38.9% of men 19+ years old drink tea; 57.5% of women and 57.0% of men (19+ years old) drink coffee or coffee substitutes (1). If you fall in these groups, do you know what’s in your coffee shop beverage? Caffeine The main reason people drink coffee is caffeine, a stimulant found in coffee, tea,…
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Genes and caffeine metabolism
Perhaps it’s not news to you that genes affect caffeine metabolism. It makes intuitive sense as we all know that person who can have coffee right before going to bed and still sleep like a baby. A little while ago I got an email announcing a new report derived from my myDNA genetic testing. Which caffeine metabolism genes are tested? myDNA analyses three genes (ADORA2A, CYP1A1-CYP1A2, CYP1A2 and AHR) to derive information about caffeine effect on the brain, caffeine metabolism and whether inducers (foods that boost caffeine metabolism) help or not. My reaction to caffeine I know from experience that whenever I drink coffee in the afternoon, my sleep suffers.…
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Recipe: Coconut affogato
Who doesn’t like affogato? Besides people who don’t like coffee. Or ice cream. Or cold coffee. Well, you get my point. Because I have no desire of consuming regular ice cream any time soon (the dairy and sugar combo just kill me), I’ve been making my affogato with frozen coconut cream. I haven’t added any extra flavourings yet but I suspect it would be equally delicious with a dash of vanilla or almond essence, or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
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Recipe: Chocolate coffee bites
There are only a few things that can mess with my willpower and usual tendency to eat sensibly. One of the biggies: dark chocolate-covered coffee beans. That’s the reason I (almost) never buy them. One night I was studying and I felt like I *needed* my cacao-caffeine fix, but all the shops were closed. I came up with this super simple, quick and dangerous alternative.
