coffee.

There is just something about the waking hours that go hand-in-hand with a warm cup of something in your hands. For a huge number of people in the world, that hot mug is filled with coffee. I for one did not begin to enjoy the beverage until well into adulthood. The smell always made me swoon, but my brain could not synchronize that glorious coffee aroma with the bitter taste of it. Eventually, the allure of sharing coffee with my husband in the morning or with friends in a coffee shop won out, and I learned to like it...with cream; I still can't stand it black.

Coffee is good for you in moderation. It contains antioxidants that can help you fight heart disease, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and maybe even Type II diabetes. However, there can be downsides, and I have discovered two of them: 1) The acidity of coffee can cause digestive issues and 2) it can cause rapid heart rate in someone who is sensitive to caffeine.

Both decaf and full strength coffee contain chlorogenic acid, which is tough on the tummy. It boosts levels of the hormone gastrin, which in some people can cause digestive distress. For me, I couple this issue with the fact that, though I like coffee with almond, coconut, or oat milk, I love coffee with regular cow's milk half and half. I am mildly lactose intolerant. So, while I opt for healthy, grass-fed dairy, it still contributes to my stomach upset. 

In my quest to find coffee I can drink without upsetting my stomach, I first discovered low acid coffee from Costco. I am a bit more tolerant of it, but it didn't fully solve the problem. Then a friend told me about an acid free coffee called Tyler's.

It helps. BUT, guess what? The acid in coffee is what gives it its flavor. Tyler's just doesn't offer that depth of flavor you expect from a good cup of coffee. So...maybe coffee just ain't for me. But I mean, you can't say I didn't try really hard to find the perfect coffee for me!

If you are looking for the perfect cup of coffee, I would urge you to purchase only organic coffee. Conventional coffee growers use an extensive amount of pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides on their plants. In fact, coffee is one of the most chemically treated crops in the world. Many of these chemicals transfer from the plants to the beans and are not removed during processing, so when you are brewing your morning coffee, there are chemicals dripping in the pot along with the coffee. Additionally, many types of conventional coffee are made from a hybrid coffee plant. Coffee grows best in areas with partial shade. It is more difficult for farmers to plant coffee around shade trees, plus those shade trees take up space that could contain a coffee plant. So over the years, they have created hybrid coffee plants that can adequately grow in sunny fields. Overall, then, it is best to purchase organic certified coffee.

When you prepare your organic coffee, I'd suggest learning to drink it without sugar. I'm sure I will talk in depth about sugar at some point, but you may as well try to cut sugar whenever possible. As for the creamer, opt for almond, coconut, or oat milk, especially if you experience any tummy issues after drinking coffee. For you, it could be as simple as eliminating the cow's milk. And trust me, I know I'm preaching to myself about my preferred half and half! Of course, it is probably in MY best interest to give up coffee and opt for some other hot beverage in my mug in the morning!