Coffee can be an amazing boost for your morning, packed with antioxidants and linked with reduced risk of heart disease, diabetes and depression. Unfortunately, however, coffee also comes with its share of drawbacks such as high sugar content, calories and saturated fats; but don’t worry; with just a few simple modifications made to your morning brew you can still enjoy its benefits and meet your health goals at once.

First and foremost, avoid adding sugar and cream. Although this may seem like an effort, all those extra calories quickly add up; black coffee has almost zero while a latte with cream and sugar can have up to 100. In addition, drinking your coffee immediately can reduce acidity which could otherwise lead to heartburn or tooth erosion.

If you must use milk in your coffee, opt for low fat varieties like almond or coconut. Also avoid low calorie creamers that contain ingredients such as sucralose (Sweet’n Low) or aspartame (AminoSweet) which contain unhealthy additives.

Next, switch up your brewing method. French press, cold brew and AeroPress coffee makers are among the many available to create more flavorful and nutritious cups of coffee with increased antioxidant levels, helping your digestion as well as immune health.

Switch your sugar for natural sweeteners like maple syrup or honey; for those wanting an unprocessed option, Stevia could be an option too; just make sure to read labels carefully since some artificial sweeteners may pose health concerns.

Add flavor with spices like turmeric for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits or cinnamon to help stabilize blood sugar levels. Simply adding a pinch to the grounds prior to brewing or stirring in teaspoonfuls afterwards can give all these benefits without increasing calorie consumption.

Another alternative is swapping out some of the sugary syrups found at Dunkin’ Donuts and Starbucks with coconut oil for an exotic tropical flair that also provides healthy fats to aid weight loss and brain function. This will add flavor while simultaneously offering your java an extra health benefit!

At home, you can craft your own latte by mixing low-fat milk with any nutritious powder of choice – like coconut and cinnamon which both offer numerous health benefits! Or add a scoop of collagen or protein powder for even more nutritious ingredients in your coffee drink.