Go Ahead. Have Another Cup of Joe!

Do you love your coffee? If you are like most Americans, your answer is probably a resounding “YES!”. According to 2015 survey by Zagat’s, nearly 90% of Americans drink coffee, and those who drink, consumer approximately 2.1. cups a day. Let’s see; if we do the math on this correctly… 90% of Americans is 283.5M people, multiply by 2.1 cups is…. 595.35M cups a day! (Maybe I should invest in a coffee shop) Multiply that number by 365 days, and … whoa! That is 217 BILLION cups of coffee consumed by Americans each year. (I definitely need to invest in a coffee shop) But, how many of you coffee consumers worry that coffee may have a negative impact on your health?

Worry no more caffeinated brethren, because coffee has some health benefits! According to a study found within the British Medical Journal, coffee was not found to be associate with most of the deadly diseases we associate with our modern society. Those diseases I’m refereeing to are cardiovascular disease, and incidence of cancer, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and diabetes. Other studies have shown that coffee is a mood enhancer, and when you extrapolate that mood enhancement to the knowledge that people who in a positive mood are considered to have longer and more positive lives, the consumption of coffee should be celebrated!

Well, as with all things, devil is in the details. Before you double fist your next cup of Joe, you need to consider how much sugar and cream you are adding to your favorite morning brew. The results in the BMJ note the benefits of black coffee. Sugar and cream can add unwanted calories and weight that most of us don’t want, not to mention the future unhealthy results.

www.bmj.com/content/359/bmj.j5356

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Savory Bean and Spinach Soup

SELRES_561b0dd2-23b1-48bd-8390-e4e4d58f2d1fphoto by Mike DeiterSELRES_561b0dd2-23b1-48bd-8390-e4e4d58f2d1f

It is winter, and the weather forecast for this weekend looks like it will be cold everywhere in United States. When I’m cold, I like a warm hearty soup. And what I like about this recipe is that it is 1) healthy for you, i.e. not filled with extra sugar, salt, or fat, and 2) you can put this in a slow cooker (crock pot) and not worry with it. While the soup cooks, you can go to the store, run your errands, hit the gym, or other wise enjoy your day. I also like that you can add other ingredients such as Swiss chard or other greens to replace the kale, or some crushed red pepper flakes to spice up the soup which would add a healthy level capsaicin to your diet and help decrease inflammation throughout your body.

Let us know your results and share other healthy food ideas with us on this blog.

Makes: 6 servings
Ingredients:

  • 3 14-ounce cans vegetable broth
  • 1 15-ounce can tomato puree
  • 1 15-ounce can small white beans or Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1/2 cup uncooked brown rice
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 8 cups coarsely chopped fresh spinach or kale leaves
  • Finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Nutrition facts per serving: 150 calories, 9g protein, 31g carbohydrate, 3g fat (1g saturated), 8g fiber

To see the directions on how to put this delicious soup together, please click here for the rest of the details. https://www.fitnessmagazine.com/recipes/dinner/seven-easy-slow-cooker-recipes/?page=2