Yes to coffee in itself, however not all coffee beverage is vegan.
A whopping 83% of adults in the US currently drink coffee and this statistic is still on the rise. This translates to a single adult taking an average of 3.2 cups of coffee on a daily basis. Coffee in its non-beverage form is certainly vegan but health experts warn that too much of it may be detrimental to the overall human health.
Coffee assumes such a centrality to the Americans that as Bob Thompson, a university of Syracuse professor of popular culture, interestingly puts it, “You could say this nation runs on two dark liquids — petroleum and coffee”.
Check out how the coffee travels from seed to a cup:
The Vegan Coffee
Still on statistics, 50% of the American population prefers espresso, cappuccino, latte and iced/cold coffee. This implies that a smaller percentage of people will opt for black coffee. Amidst all these are coffee brands; some vegan, some non vegan and quite obviously our interest should be biased towards what’s fit for the vegan.
Milk and coffee cream are common additions to coffee for their calories, nutrition, and flavor. Both of these are dairy products and wouldn’t go down well with vegans. However, vegans have found healthier options in creamy soy, almond and coconut based creamers, and are having it delicious just like their non-vegan counterparts.
Here is a list of some purely vegan coffee creamer brands that may interest you
- Silk Creamers (check on Amazon)
- Califia Farms Almond Milk Creamers (check on Amazon)
- So Delicious Coconut Milk Creamer (check on Amazon)
- So Delicious Almond Milk Creamer (check on Amazon)
The Healthy Coffee Intake
Most people take coffee for all the supposedly justifiable reasons. It is no more a shot of caffeine; it is an affordable necessity, an energy booster, and much more. It is a beverage that almost everyone patriotically identifies with.
However, an excessive intake adversely affects how the body absorbs essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, and B vitamins and ultimately causes depletion of some nutrients like vitamin B6 from the body.
It is recommended that you take a maximum of 300 mg of caffeine a day which comes to about 3 cups of coffee a day.
The Trade-0ff
If you are taking excessive coffee to stay awake, consider substituting it with plenty of water. Water boosts your brain to function more actively. Alternatively, green tea is great as it comes packed with powerful antioxidants known as catechins which are healthy for the body.
A good diet too goes a long way in eliminating the dullness and constant fatigue caused by junk food, smoking, lack of exercise, and lack of sleep.
What is your opinion on coffee overall?