Chicory Root Latte

One of the most delicious beverages I have ever drank is the delectable coffee. Or latte. Or espresso. It’s all yummy. Sigh. But does yummy come with a price?

I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but … coffee isn’t as wonderful as we wish it was. I know. You’ve read so many times that coffee does so many wonderful things. It’s an enema, it’s good for the colon, it helps us with energy, etc., etc.!

The truth, though, is coffee is not only a stimulant, it also is an acid. An acid that dehydrates you, and kills digestion. This doesn’t include the creamer and the sugar added either!

I can’t recall how many clients I’ve seen, that not only have digestive issues, they also don’t really eat much because of all the coffee they consume. This is by far the toughest habit to break. We’re willing to do anything it takes to feel better. But say bye to coffee?! Ugh.

I absolutely love my coffee. I love it. But drinking it every morning like I wish I could, absolutely destroys my adrenals (you should wake up energized from balanced hormones and plenty of rest, not need coffee to do that for you) and hurts my stomach. Like everything, though, moderation is key. I don’t advocate to eliminate anything for life. I do, however, feel strongly about breaking emotional connections to food and drink and realizing that being addicted to anything isn’t good for us.

Here are a few other reasons why coffee isn’t as good for us as we wish it were!

1) Coffee is acidic and can weaken the lining of the stomach which can lead to ulcers.

2) Irritates the small intestine, potentially leading to abdominal spasms, cramps and elimination problems, often alternating between constipation and diarrhea.

3) The average roasted coffee drank most by consumers is one of the most pesticide filled plants on the planet.

4) Coffee affects iron absorption in your stomach and particularly your kidneys ability to retain calcium, zinc, magnesium and other important minerals that most people are already deficient in.

5) Stains your teeth! Just look at the lining of a coffee pot. Ugh.

6) Studies show that acid contributes to joint inflammation. Heavy coffee drinkers usually end up suffering some kind of joint pain thanks to high acidity in the body.

7) This is the scariest of them all. Coffee contains a substance called acrylamide. It is a potentially carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substance that forms when coffee beans are roasted at high temperatures. The darker the roast, the higher the levels of acrylamide are likely to be. In fact, coffee has been shown to be one of the major sources of this dangerous chemical in the Standard American diet.

Remember, nothing is set in stone, and everything is possible with healthy moderation. But everything you put in your body is either feeding or fighting disease. Enjoy your coffee in moderation, but know that you can break the addiction if necessary!

Having a hard time kicking the coffee habit? Try this amazing recipe that tastes so much like coffee, and is good for you too!

Enjoy!

Chicory Root Latte

A yummy alternative to drinking coffee!

 ServingsIngredients1 tbsp roasted chicory root1 tbsp roasted dandelion root2 cups water (if you enjoy black coffee, stay here. Enjoy!)2 tbsp coconut oil, or butter2 2 pitted dates or honey as desired.1/2 tsp fresh nutmeg or cinnamon if desired.

Instructions

  1. Place chicory and dandelion root in a cooking pot and cover with water.
  2. Bring it to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer for two minutes.
  3. Turn off the heat and let it steep for 10 minutes. (If you enjoy black coffee, stop here and enjoy!)
  4. Strain and transfer to a blender, then add the coconut oil/butter and the dates. Blend for one minute.
  5. Add the nutmeg or cinnamon and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Try weaning yourself by drinking smaller servings of coffee, to half chicory root, half coffee, to eventually just chicory/dandelion. After awhile, you might want to try peppermint, matcha or green tea instead. Small amounts of caffeine are still OK in moderation as long as your body doesn’t become addicted and deplete the adrenals.

Share this Recipe

Body confidence- Quit judging + start loving!

It’s summertime here in Northern Manitoba- our days are long, the sun is never ending, and we know in a few short months the snow will fly, so we need to take advantage of the heat and sunshine. But for some of us, this is the worst time of year.

Hydrate to keep healthy

Even though our northern summer is wrapping up, we still have a few hot days left up here in the wild north! On those hot summer days, we need to make sure that we staying hydrated. Hydration in the summer is especially important because we perspire more, we  exert ourselves

Tips for a healthy start back to school

Can you believe it’s already that time again?? Here in the north, school is starting back up next week! If you have children or you yourself, are going back to school, you know this time and transition can be chaos. The change of season, routine and structure completely changes, and

Morning yoga poses

Aaaaaaaand. It’s fall. With the change of season in the air, for some of us, its perfect timing to start getting back into the swing of things, and either get back to our exercise routine, or start one! Check out some of myfavourite yoga poses to stretch in the mornings.