Be Spiffy And Make Your Own Smart Coffee!

Morris Last Updated: February 19, 2020 0

While people are getting dumber these days, many other things are getting smarter — like smart phones, TVs, etc. Even the world’s favorite drink — coffee — seems to have gotten a little “brainier” lately!

Yep, “smart coffee” is a thing now and many companies are offering branded coffee formulas enhanced with other health-promoting ingredients.

Smart coffee blends often contain some herbs, vitamins, amino acids and other natural substances that are believed to enhance energy, mood, mental and physical performance, and overall wellness.

While you may like the catchy name and the idea of a super cup of coffee that can boost your energy and productivity while helping you lose fat, it’s very likely that all of those spiffed up products won’t give you much more than a cup of any quality, normal coffee!

Here are the top three reasons why I think brand smart coffee formulas may not be a very smart buy:

Mixing coffee with other “healthy” ingredients more often than not ruins its unique natural taste. It may be a little healthier, but not tastier than your favorite blend of “stupid” coffee!
They are usually marketed under tall claims with no reliable scientific proof. You may end up paying a premium price for an overrated product that doesn’t do much more and tastes worse than a regular cup of joe.
Rave user reviews and testimonials are not a reliable way to evaluate the worthiness of a product, especially in the nutrition industry where many companies rely on influencers and affiliates to hype up their products.

And please don’t be led to believe that a certain coffee product can exclusively make you happier, leaner, smarter and whatnot.

Yes, coffee has a stimulant effect and it has been shown to boost energy, enhance physical performance, improve cognitive function, elevate mood, increase metabolic rate, increase fat burning, and provide other health benefits. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]

However, you must have been drinking coffee for many years now, so did you experience any of these effects? Well, a smart coffee won’t add much to that!

I am not suggesting that smart coffee products are a total scam, but they probably aren’t all they’re hyped up to be.

So, what I am suggesting is that you can make your own smart coffee by taking some of the potentially beneficial “smart” ingredients on their own while enjoying the authentic natural taste of your favorite coffee blend.

4 Worthy Supplement to Go With Your Coffee

Several natural substances work as cognitive enhancers, aka nootropics, and may improve mental performance while helping to combat anxiety and enhance mood. Some adaptogenic herbs help improve physical performance and reduce mental and physical stress.

There are different natural supplements that can make a useful addition to your cup of coffee. The following are four of the best choices worth giving a shot. Not all of these may be beneficial for you; there’s only one way to find out.

Note: You can buy these in either powder or capsule form. You can take them with/alongside a cup of coffee, but I wouldn’t recommend mixing them with your coffee — at worst, it will make it taste bad, and at best, it won’t make it taste better. You may try it though!

L-Theanine

L-Theanine is an amino acid naturally found in green tea leaves. It has a potential relaxing and cognition-enhancing effects, especially under stressful conditions. [9]

What makes theanine a particularly good supplement to take with coffee is its ability to reduce some of the negative side effects of caffeine, like jitters and anxiety, while complementing its cognition-boosting effects. Taking theanine with caffeine has been found more beneficial for mood and mental performance than caffeine alone. [10][11]

It’s not likely that you’ll notice any significant change in cognitive performance by taking theanine, but it may help reduce coffee jitters.

Ashwagandha

Ashwagandha (withania somnifera) is an adaptogenic herb that is commonly used to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. [12]

There is some evidence that this herb may improve memory and cognitive performance. [13][14] It may also enhance physical strength and performance during exercise. [15][16]

Lion’s Mane Mushroom

With a shape resembling a lion’s mane, this mushroom is often touted as a natural nootropic that may help enhance the health and function of the brain. [17] It also seems to have the potential to reduce anxiety and depression. [18]

Lion’s mane mushroom possesses a protective effect against mild cognitive impairment and neurodegenerative diseases, like dementia and Alzheimer’s, although the evidence for its efficacy is not conclusive. [19][20][21][22]