Should you give up coffee in the morning and what drink to replace it with: a food expert explains

Many people can't imagine their mornings without coffee, and it becomes a mandatory daily ritual. However, this drink should be consumed with caution, as its effects on the body are ambiguous. You should choose the right time and combine it with other foods accordingly.

On her Instagram page, food expert rm_anastasia talks about what time of day you should give up coffee and why, and what is good and bad for this drink.

Benefits of drinking coffee

• Within a few hours after drinking coffee, it increases the level of adrenaline in the body, while having little or no effect on carbohydrate metabolism, and energy reserves are quickly replenished.
• Coffee is a source of a large number of antioxidants, such as those found in fruits, berries, and vegetables.
• Coffee contains a large amount of macro- and microelements.
• In certain doses, coffee improves mental and physical reactions, and fights fatigue and drowsiness.
• The amount of caffeine is determined for each individual.

Cons of drinking coffee

• It can lead to depletion of nerve cells and disorders of the body's functioning.
• Coffee is habit forming and addictive. If this happens, you should try not to drink the drink for two weeks.
• Coffee can accumulate in the liver tissue.
• Sleep disturbances, anxiety.

When it is better to give up coffee

• After 16:00 hours. This is due to the production of the stress hormone cortisol in our body.
• In the morning on an empty stomach – it irritates the gastric mucosa.
• Coffee should not be drunk with meals. Coffee contains tannins, which interfere with the absorption of vitamins and minerals in the process of nutrition. It should be consumed after 1-1.5 hours after a meal.

Spicy hot cocoa with marshmallows

A drink that will warm you up in cool weather and give you energy. The idea was shared by food blogger nasti.cake. Published on her Instagram page.

Ingredients:

• Milk - 250 ml.
• Cocoa - 2 tsp.
• Sugar - 1 tsp.
• Corn starch - 1 tsp.
• Ginger - 1/3 tsp.
• Cinnamon - one stick or 1/2 tsp.
• Chocolate - 1 tsp (milk or bitter)

Method of preparation:

1. Mix everything and boil.
2. Stir with a whisk so that the cocoa lumps dissolve in the hot milk.
3. When the cocoa boils, reduce the heat and leave for another 7-8 minutes.
4. Stir occasionally with a whisk to thicken the cocoa and make it spicy.
5. Remove from the stove, pour into a cup, and add marshmallows. Remove the cinnamon.

The text was checked by MedOboz project manager Viktor Lytvynenko.