Warm beverages are often associated with comfort and relaxation: chamomile tea, homemade chicken soup, hot toddies, mulled cider. Because of its caffeine content, coffee isn’t always thought of as relaxing, but for many people it can be – and it can also be an essential part of a daily self-care routine.
Natalie has always been an avid coffee drinker. During her detox of 2015, she committed to an elimination diet with the exception of her morning cup of coffee. Her reasoning: “There have to be some limits.” However, last year she (hesitantly) gave up coffee because she believed it made her feel a bit anxious. After a few months, she felt some ease in anxiety but began having difficulty concentrating. Her friend-doctor, Barbara Frazier, suggested that cutting coffee out of her diet might be the culprit. So, Natalie began (happily) adding coffee to her diet again. She did so gradually, using her grandmother’s coffee cup, which holds less than her usual mug. Sure enough, the coffee helped with her cognizant functions, and now it is part of her self-care routine again.
There are studies constantly being done on the positive effects of coffee on brain activity and general health. Research shows that coffee consumption correlates with a lower risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. (For those who want to read more, Max Lugavere’s book Genius Foods: Become Smarter, Happier, and More Productive While Protecting Your Brain for Life, has lots of suggestions on how food can impact brain health.)
Enjoy The Factory Blend Coffee, custom roasted for us by Muletown Coffee, when you want that familiar, comfortable feeling. If you take your coffee in larger doses, Heath Ceramic’s’ Large Mug is the perfect size; for those who take theirs in smaller sizes, their Studio Mug may be right for you. Whether it rejuvenates or relaxes you, make coffee a part of your personal self-care regimen.
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