Coffee is one of my main downfalls. The caffeine reeks havoc on my blood sugar, which not only makes me gain weight, but also does horrible things to my blood pressure. But I LOVE coffeeeeeee!!!!!!
Technically, coffee is not a clean item. But before I get a bunch of angry comments, I should say that there are many clean eaters out there who drink coffee. It’s not specifically prohibited by a clean eating regimen.
However, the amount of coffee you consume is usually kept to about 1 or 2 cups per day when eating clean. Remember, everything in moderation.
Those 10 cups of coffee I used to drink before I left the house in the morning just do not qualify for clean eating. And neither does the half and half I used, or the pound of sweetener I added.
So what do you do if you want to cut out all caffeine, but you really do enjoy the flavor of a good cup of coffee?
There are two brands of drinks you can buy. They are called: Cafix and Pero. You find them in many health food stores. They taste remarkably similar to coffee, but there are no coffee beans or caffeine anywhere to be found in the ingredient list.
What are they made out of? Chicory and beets! Can you believe that? And there’s only 1 or 2 grams of carbs (depending on which one you buy). No fat, or anything else for that matter. Add a little organic soy milk for protein, and you’ve got a well-balanced, clean “coffee” drink in the morning!
Plus, there are quite a few benefits to adding chicory root to your diet:
- Contains Vitamin C, a powerful antioxidant
- Known for its ability to help prevent jaundice and an enlarged liver when mixed with water and consumed
- A natural sedative and anti-inflammatory for the nervous system
- Helps the body resist gallstones and liver stones
- Provides the soluble fiber inulin, which feeds digestive flora in the intestines
- The inulin content is not digestible, so its lack of glucose can help promote optimal blood sugar levels while also increasing stool bulk and consistency
- Aids in decreasing the levels of serum LDL cholesterol in the blood
- Acts as a gentle laxative and diuretic for removing excess water and toxins, and this can also reduce strain on the liver.
- By helping to increase the flow of bile, Chicory Root helps the body digest foods and liquids better. With the support of that extra bile to break down fats in the body, Chicory Root can effectively help optimize blood composition. Organic Chicory Root is a valuable herbal supplement for anyone seeking to restore or achieve optimal liver and gallbladder health!
I have to admit, I’m a bit bias. I grew up with this stuff. I always called it “Omama Coffee” (Omama is what I called my grandma – it’s the longer version of “Oma”.), because she always served it to me and my cousins, especially when the adults were having coffee. We felt so grown up.
To this day, I still call it “Omama Coffee”. I can’t help myself. Funny how we make those connections to certain foods at such a young age. They stay with us for life, don’t they?
So if coffee is your craving, try one of these products. I think you’ll find it to be a down-right pleasurable experience in a cup.
And just for the record, I really do drink this stuff. Nobody paid me to mention it here.
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