One of my passions is coffee. Who doesn’t like a great cup of Joe in the morning?? 
Well, most people do and many often feel really bad about this so-called “bad” habit.
I would like to share with you some helpful information regarding coffee so that you can continue to enjoy it if you would like to and how it can become health generating instead of health draining.
In the United States there is a Federal standard for mold and mycotoxins. Problem is this standard is probably the worst in the world. In fact, nearly 28% of our population is genetically extremely sensitive to mold and mycotoxins. The rest of us can still be affected just not so severely.
Why does this matter? Mold in our foods supply can trigger chronic inflammation and you may not even know it. Mold exposure can cause nearly 40 different symptoms including feeling hung over and you didn’t have a drink, anxiousness, brain fog, trouble controlling emotions, sinus or ear infections, eye twitching, and feeling tired and wanting to sleep more. These can sometimes even look like chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, or arthritis.
Mold is starting to really become an issue especially with the increased use of pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides used today. Just like anti-biotic use, over time the bacteria or fungi find ways to become stronger. That is the world in which we live and with this knowledge, we can make more informed decisions about our health.
Molds produce a byproduct called mycotoxins. Two mycotoxins of major concern here are Aflatoxin and Ochratoxin A (OTA). Aflatoxin can be found in grains and peanuts. OTA is the mold most commonly found in coffee.
Since there is NO US regulation for coffee toxins (unlike Japan, China, Europe, or Singapore), coffee that gets rejected by these countries gets shipped to …The USA!!
Molds have been linked to infections, chronic inflammation, chronic fatigue, and direct mycotoxic poisoning. Yikes! The mycotoxins can also cause DNA damage and can actually mutate your DNA. They can also breakdown the myelin, fatty protection wrapped around your neurons. This could predispose you to Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s Diseases. Who wants an increased risk? I surely do not.
What is the solution? Eating a low-mold anti-inflammatory diet can really help you out especially for life long health. Foods most at risk for containing mold include gluten, yeast, wheat, barley, peanuts, mushrooms, and corn. Beer and wine (choose organic) can also be a source of mold/mycotoxins. Choose a diet that is low in sugar, high in fiber and is organic as much as possible.
For my Coffee lovers, choose a certified low or toxin-free brand of coffee. My favorites brands are BulletProof, Purity coffee, Camano Island Coffee Roasters, and Kion Brand coffee. (I have the Bulletproof brand in stock in my office)
A great way to make your coffee extra powerful is to make it according to the BulletProof Coffee recipe. I will post the recipe at the end of this article.
BulletProof Coffee essentially is adding organic unsalted butter and coconut oil to the coffee for an energy boost. It can also be used to replace your breakfast if you are in a hurry. Here are some of the benefits:
- It can suppress hunger.
- It can provide steady energy lasting the entire morning.
- It can increase mental clarity and improved memory recall
- High Antioxidant content.
- It can enhance fat loss.
- It can enhance athletic performance.
When you choose a low or mold-free coffee you will not experience the caffeine jitters or a headache if you miss a day of drinking it. This along with no brain fog is a great reason to switch up your coffee. Another issue with moldy coffee is that it can spike your insulin and then cause low blood sugar to follow (think AM cravings!).
For the best results, grass fed unsalted butter is the best. It has more nutrients and regular butter and is a deep yellow color. You could also substitute Ghee if you are too sensitive to regular butter.
Using MCT or Brain Octane versions of coconut oil also have shown superior results. They are more concentrated in the nutrients in coconut oil that decrease hunger and help in the burning of fat. Just make sure you take is slow to start as a large amount of MCT or Brain Octane oil can cause diarrhea until you get used to it.
So, if you enjoy coffee, look to switching to a low or mold-free non-toxic coffee. Drink 1-2 cups per day. Drink it with natural sweeteners such as stevia or monk fruit as artificial sweeteners such as Splenda are toxic to your brain.
Cathi Ketterling, Pharm. D ABAAHP Health and Detox Coach
If you are struggling with your health or weight, contact me for a complementary 20 minute session. Please reach out to me HERE.
How to make Bulletproof Coffee – Official Recipe
(https://www.bulletproof.com/recipes/bulletproof-diet-recipes/bulletproof-coffee-recipe/ )
Ingredients:
- 2 ½ heaping tablespoons ground Bulletproof Coffee Beans
- 1 teaspoon – 2 tablespoons Brain Octane Oil or MCT Oil
- 1-2 tablespoons grass-fed, unsalted butter or grass-fed ghee.
Directions:
- Make your coffee. Brew 1 cup (8-12 ounces) of coffee using filtered water with 2 ½ heaping tablespoons of freshly ground Bulletproof Coffee Beans. Use a French Press for ease of use and to preserve beneficial coffee oils that paper filters keep out.
- Add Brain Octane Oil. Add 1 teaspoon to 2 tablespoons of Brain Octane Oil (start slow with this stuff – it’s powerful!)
- Add grass-fed butter or ghee. Add 1-2 tablespoons of grass-fed, unsalted butter or grass-fed ghee. Make sure your butter is unsalted. Salty coffee is gross.
- Blend. Mix it all in a blender for 20-30 seconds until it looks like a creamy latte. There will be a good amount of foam on top.
**Blending in a blender if very important. It really helps mix all of the ingredients together and gives the coffee a latte effect.
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