Try These 3 Ingredients in Your Coffee to Boost Your Metabolism All Day Long
You don’t have to spend hours in the gym or go on a restrictive diet to boost your metabolism. All you need are 3 ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen (or can get at the grocery store) to use your morning coffee for weight loss. These ingredients will not only give you an energy boost, but they may also regulate your hormones and keep your skin looking radiant!
Your body’s metabolism is based on three things: basal metabolic rate (BMR), your physical activity, and the thermogenic effect of food (1). Certain foods and their nutrients can positively impact your BMR and the thermogenic effect of your food, helping you burn more calories at rest and aid in weight loss.
Learn more about my holistic, 30-day plan to help you lose more body fat over the next 4 weeks>>>
How can I make my morning coffee healthier?
For years now, we know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. And the right breakfast can be the key to helping you adopt healthy habits whenever you feel like your morning routine needs a makeover. But what about your coffee? Could you actually use coffee for weight loss in addition to a healthy diet? If you add the right ingredients, you can prime digestion, deliver energy to your cells, and support healthy metabolism and hormone levels.
When you don’t have time for a hearty breakfast, you likely find yourself relying on a coffee or other drink to get you through to lunchtime. If so, make your otherwise empty coffee into a metabolic superpower to help control appetite, boost antioxidants, and burn fat. If you’re not a coffee drinker, don’t worry, you can add these next ingredients to:
- Green or black tea
- Chai tea
- Herbal tea
Read more: 7 Wellness Tonics for Hormone Balance, Radiant Skin, and a Happy Mood
Should you drink coffee for weight loss?
Coffee contains caffeine, which studies show can increase metabolic function temporarily (2). The problem with drinking coffee is that as you get into your 30s and 40s (or have hormone imbalance symptoms) coffee can spell trouble for your adrenals. Caffeine can elevate stress hormones in some people, making you feel tired-but-wired, and increasing the likelihood you’ll store belly fat. Totally counterintuitive to any fat-burning capability that might be present.
What’s the best drink to speed up metabolism?
The good news is that many biologically-active compounds in tea and other drinks can have similar effects–if you add the right ingredients.
These are my favorite for supercharging your morning cup of tea, coffee, or whatever you choose!
Related: Can’t lose weight? Time for a holistic liver detox.
Cinnamon increases fat metabolism
Adding cinnamon to your morning cup can help reduce hyperglycemia, increase fat burning, and decrease inflammation (3). All of these are incredibly beneficial to speed up your metabolism and help with weight loss. Cinnamon is a great addition to any herbal, green, or black tea, as well as coffee.
In one recent study, when researchers added cinnamaldehyde—the phytonutrient responsible for cinnamon’s spicy taste and smell—to human fat cells (called adipocytes), the fat cells began making genes and enzymes to increase fat metabolism (4). An increase in fat metabolism means your cells will burn instead of store extra fat. Better fat burning = easier weight loss!
Related: Get more simple weight loss tips (green tea + grapefruit!)
Coconut oil to burn fat
Coconut oil contains a high ratio of medium chain fatty acids or MCTs for short. MCTs are a special kind of fat that your body metabolizes differently, and they have been shown to boost metabolism.
MCTs are digested and then shuttled directly to the liver, where they promote the burning of other fat cells, as well as contribute to the overall thermogenic effect of food (5). These two factors are what makes MCTs and coconut oil such a great option to boost your metabolism.
A 2015 meta-analysis looked at body fat and weight in adults consuming either long-chain fats (like those found in your everyday diet) or MCTs. The analysis found that the group consuming MCTs experienced significantly greater decreases in body weight and body fat than in the LCT group (6).
MCTs are also absorbed and metabolized quickly, so they are a great source of energy for active, busy moms and people who are trying to lose weight.
Belly Fix contains 2 grams of MCTs, plus gut-healing glutamine and fermented superfoods for better absorption.
Collagen peptides to boost metabolism
Collagen (and gelatin) are a major dietary source of glycine, an amino acid that’s often lacking in Western diets. Glycine helps with methylation, a crucial step in converting nutrients from food into fuel. This may positively impact metabolism.
Numerous studies show other benefits of glycine as well, like better sleep, healthier skin, and a more balanced mood (7).
Collagen rich foods also typically contain more hyaluronic acid than other foods, which helps improve skin and joint health.
Because collagen-rich foods are things like bone broth and slow cooked meats (skin-on!), it’s common to not be getting enough of these beneficial amino acids in your diet (8).
Supplementing with a high-quality, grass-fed collagen powder is a super easy way to support so many different health goals all at once, and first thing in the morning.
How to make coffee for weight loss
Making coffee to boost fat burning and increase weight loss is easy, and only takes a few steps. Most of these ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, and you can often find collagen peptide powder at your local natural grocer.
To make coffee for weight loss you’ll need:
- 8-10 ounces of brewed coffee (warm or iced)
- 1 serving collagen peptides (about 1 1/2 tablespoons)
- 1/2 Tbsp coconut oil*
- 1/4 teaspoon ceylon cinnamon (also called “true” cinnamon)
In a large mug with your coffee (or tea), stir in coconut oil and cinnamon. While stirring, sprinkle in collagen powder and keep stirring until fully dissolved. For a super creamy texture, you can also use a handheld frother to blend all ingredients together.
*You can substitute pure MCT oil for coconut oil for maximum benefit. If this is the case, adjust the amount to the serving recommended on the MCT product itself. Occasionally, too much MCT oil at once can temporarily irritate the gut lining, and your digestive system will initiate elimination mechanisms.
Should I drink this every day?
This coffee (or tea) is perfect for enjoying in a daily diet, or a few times a week when you need more energy. I like it morning, though it’s also great during my midday wakeup time.
Find Balance with a Healthy Gut
I designed one daily part of my routine to cover all the bases of metabolism health: gut health, microbiome balance, and nutrient-dense superfoods.
This daily support includes collagen peptides, as well as MCTs and traditional Ayurvedic remedies to align perfectly with what your cells need to properly digest and absorb nutrients–while calming inflammation.
Fermented greens and one kind of special probiotic have been shown to decrease fat storage and promote a healthy microbiome.
Learn more about Belly Fix.
Set the tone for a great day with a jumpstart of holistic nutrients to boost your metabolism. Cinnamon and coconut oil in your coffee or tea help reduce inflammation and balance blood sugar levels. You can also try collagen peptides. Collagen contain amino acids that help convert food into nutrients that power cells–helping to increase metabolism all day long!
