Coffee may seem like an inherently healthy beverage, but it has its drawbacks. Coffee often contains extra sugar and unhealthy fats which may contribute to weight gain or other health concerns. Luckily there are ways you can make your morning cup healthier!

One key step towards making coffee healthier is eliminating added sugars altogether. A small amount is acceptable, but too much sweetener adds unnecessary calories and excess caloric intake to your beverage. For alternative sweeteners that won’t raise blood sugar levels as quickly, try natural solutions such as stevia or honey that have lesser effects than table sugar on blood glucose levels.

If you must add sweeteners, it is wise to choose ones which have been proven to aid weight loss and lower heart disease risks. Unsweetened plant-based milks contain less calories than dairy milks and can help decrease your intake of saturated fats.

An easy way to make coffee healthier is to forego creamer. Milk can give your beverage a creamy texture, but its high-fat content could increase cholesterol levels and raise risk factors associated with heart disease. Opting for unsweetened plant-based milk instead can still provide rich coffee flavors while adding minimal extra fats.

One of the easiest and most beneficial ways to make coffee healthier is grinding your own beans. Freshly ground coffee contains more health-promoting polyphenols than preground options. Furthermore, you have several grinder options to choose from; some produce coarser grinds than others. Finally, selecting whole beans over instant or decaffeinated options ensures you make the most out of each morning brew!

Limit the amount of caffeine you take. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), 400 milligrams a day is considered safe for most adults – that translates to roughly four 8-ounce cups of brewed coffee! But everyone’s sensitivity differs and you may want to take less.

Research shows that coffee can improve both mood and alertness levels. It has also been linked to reduced depression risks as well as lower risks of heart attack and type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, coffee may support beneficial bacteria in the gut that may improve digestive health.

Remind yourself that studies assessing the health benefits of coffee have mostly relied on correlational analyses – meaning they were conducted using surveys that related coffee drinking habits with other health outcomes – meaning more research needs to be conducted to establish whether coffee indeed does have these positive outcomes.