Day: December 2, 2017

How Coffee Can Help You Lose And Gain

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I loved coffee as a child. My dad brewed his own coffee and the aroma in our house was relaxing on a stressful day getting ready for school so early. I eventually tried coffee as a teenager and like it. As an adult I drink coffee regularly and I drink it the same way my dad did, creamer only. Many times I use half and half for the calcium boost.

In my 30’s I was diagnosed with high blood pressure while visiting the walk in clinic near my house. I went there for a routine cold and they asked me about my blood pressure. A look in the computer revealed that my blood pressure was high the time before when I arrived to treat a cold. This was over a two-year duration.

Since the time of the diagnosis I was put on blood pressure medication. Determined to ween off of it as I felt too young for such problems. I eventually made enough changes in my life that I was able to completely stop taking the medication after only one year.

The changes I made included cooking more meals at home, eating more fresh items and cutting out soda. For a while I quit eating bread but I gave in. It is hard to stay on a diet that restricts food items or that is so difficult that your every waking moment is thinking about it. I wanted free of the medication but I did not want to be driving myself crazy with a food plan either.

Along with the diet changes I also increased exercise. I have a treadmill that I walk on for 40 minutes two times a week. This is enough to get my heart rate up and help pump blood around my body. This type of exercise is cardiovascular and heart healthy. I have the treadmill in front of the television making it easy to walk and watch programs of my choice.

Recently, I have noticed a little weight gain. Some of the clothes in my closet are tight on the hips and or won’t make it up past the thighs. I started thinking back to taking the medication and remembering how far I have come. I still exercise but my schedule is full making it harder than before.

I eat at home and rarely dine out. The only conclusion I came too was that I was eating too much. Many diets leave a feeling of hunger which makes me irritable. Each time I drive by fast food and the smell enters my air conditioner I want to turn around and stop in even though I know I can’t. A friend gave me some new coffee. I tried it.

The first day, nothing happened. So I tried it two more times and on the third day, bam… a huge difference. I wasn’t starving. I was actually not hungry. I ate breakfast,lunch, dinner and a few snacks but it was less than I had been eating.

I drink a cup of coffee in the morning then water the rest of my day with the occasional glass of sweet tea.

Coffee is working for me. I am back into a skirt that hung in the closet for some time. I never use a scale as it changes daily depending on my salt intake, water, and more. I know when I am doing better, if my clothes fit.

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5 Desserts You Can Make With Coffee

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A flavorful dessert is normally a great accompaniment to a meal. However, not many people realize that coffee can be used in the preparation of many dessert dishes. Below are a few fantastic options for anyone who is considering the option of adding coffee desserts to their after dinner menus.

1. Coffee Cupcakes

While baking regular cupcakes, adding 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite type of coffee to the flour will make a tremendous difference to their taste. This can be in the form of mocha, espresso or virtually any other ground coffee that is available. Once baked and they are ready to be iced, a little ground coffee can be added to whatever type of icing is going to be used as well – or simply use regular vanilla icing to ensure that the flavor doesn’t become too overwhelming.

2. Coffee-flavored Ice Pops

Many people only associate ice pops or popsicles with fruit juice or soft drinks. However, these can just as easily be made by using a combination of milk and coffee as well. Instead of making the coffee with water, it should be made with milk, poured into molds and be allowed to set in the freezer for a few hours. Anyone who is allergic to dairy can consider using coconut milk, almond milk or even rice milk as a substitute and still enjoy a cold dessert.

3. Espresso Brownies

Although these delectable coffee desserts may not be suitable for young children, they will definitely be a hit at an all-adults dinner party. When using any regular brownie recipe, a few tablespoons of any type of finely ground espresso can be used to enhance the flavor substantially, while also adding an interesting twist to what is usually a relatively plain dessert.

4. Coffee Panna Cotta

This is an extremely smooth and creamy dessert that can be prepared in shaped molds, with a coffee-based and/or brandy sauce that is flambéed over it. The dessert itself can then be garnished with chocolate chips, chocolate-covered coffee beans or even a basic chocolate sauce. If serving to children or non-alcoholics, the brandy can be omitted from the recipe.

5. Quick Coffee Ice Cream

Beating just 2 cups of heavy cream, adding sweetened condensed milk, chopped nuts and dissolved coffee to the mixture will yield a delicious homemade coffee-flavored ice cream. Once beaten, the mixture will have to be placed in the freezer for a minimum of 4 hours to set fully. Nuts can be omitted if need be and replaced with chopped fruit pieces, chocolate chips, sprinkles or even crushed Oreo cookies.

Preparing coffee desserts need not be a time-consuming chore. In fact, the options mentioned above usually do not take a lot of time to prepare – 20 to 30 minutes at most (excluding setting time in the freezer for some). Different types of coffee can be used in each of them as well, depending on what the preferred choice is. However, they all have one thing in common – they are sure to delight the taste buds of everyone who tucks into them.

Atlas Coffee Club is a unique coffee of the month and delivery service of various coffee roasts around the world. To read more about us please visit: http://atlascoffeeclub.com

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