Infrared Roasted Coffee - Get your antioxidents

If you're like me, as time goes on, coffee, even from local coffee shops gave me 3 day heartburn even with cream. So I gave it up thinking it was just too acidic.Coffee was such a comforting taste and smell but the smell was going to have to be enough. The pain wasn't worth it.

Then, while in Denmark, visiting relatives, I was offered coffee that I felt if I refused would be seen as rude, so I got ready for some heartburn. But it never came. Two more mornings with coffee and again, no heartburn and the smooth taste just black, no cream. Since my Danish is bad to awful, my aunt's friend who spoke excellent English, cleared up the mystery. "You Americans, you burn your coffee beans, we heat them so they're smooth and not bitter." This would explain why so many Europeans drink many shots of espresso with no "acidic issues" in the stomach.

Makes sense now. Coffee beans are plants and alkaline in raw form. Only when they are "burnt" do they become acidic. Recent research from Japan points to Infrared Roasted/Low Acid Coffee’s Healthy Benefits concluded that over cooking or over roasting coffee beans increases the acid levels of coffee which may lead to heart burn and stomach upset.(Yep, been there, done that)  Over cooking the coffee bean also cooks out the amazing antioxidant nutrients and adds health damaging radicals to the coffee bean.

Infrared roasting leads to lower acidity levels, an evenly roasted bean, and completely eliminates a burnt or bitter coffee taste. .

Now here's the rub, Infrared roasted coffee only comprises 2% of the roasted coffees in America.
Since the Infrared coffee roasters are small batch roasters, only passionate roasters prepared for lower profit margins.

My favorite domestic beans are either Buna Bean in Ennis, Texas or Toomer's Coffee in Auburn, Alabama off their websites. If you're into the convenience of canned coffee drinks, Illy Issimo is Infrared roaster that are now made in Denmark actually and Lavazza in Italy. Some grocery stores carry Illy Issimo in big 32 ounce plastic bottle, but these are made in the US and are not infrared roasted coffee (as I discovered after 3 days of heartburn).

If you're in Europe, most roasters are infrared which is a point of pride of many restaurants with their particular blends for outstanding smooth coffee taste and health benefits. And there's always those silver cans of Illys no matter where you travel, even on the trains.

Wishing you smooth travels in your wellness journey...

Hemp Milk - Great Omegas Dude

Hemp anything seems to remind many of tie-dyed shirts and Rasta haircuts, but it is also another source of Omega 3s with higher protein than other nut milks. It includes essential amino acids, electrolytes (rehydrate), calcium and iron.

While up until recently, only shelf ready containers next to the almond milks were available, now there are some raw versions that increase not only better absorption by the body, but also digestible protein as well. Add it to your protein shakes, cereals or like me, if you're watching your carbs (i.e. sugar) totally by itself. It definitely tastes better if it's chilled, so I keep in the refrigerator, once I've opened the carton.

It's also great if you're feeling mentally fuzzy and dehydrated from say, hot summer weather or a hot yoga workout. It makes my brain "crisp-up in thinking".

Raw, live version that I enjoy is from Daily Greens' Enlighten (that also has Blue Green Algae for some extra kick). If not available, the next best I've found that is shelf stable is from Tempt. I prefer the unsweetened hemp but for a splurge, the chocolate is kind of fun.

Good travels on your wellness journey....