When In The Morning Is The Best Time To Drink Coffee?
What, there is a BEST time to drink coffee in the morning? For me, it’s RIGHT when I wake up. Isn’t that the long time law of human existence?
Growing up in Massachusetts, I would have at least one cup of coffee at home in the morning right out of bed. My second would be in the car, on my way to work. Then at work, if I went out for a lunch break, I’d bring TWO DD’s back for me and a co-worker. Somedays when he went out for lunch, he’d come back with the DD’s. It became a daily ritual for years. If you’re not from New England, DD’s means Dunkin’s.
Coffee Is Good For Us?
Boston’s Dr. Sanjiv Chopra’s says coffee is good for us. In his book, written with his brother, Deepak Chopra, he reports:
Coffee drinkers have a lower risk of seven common cancers, cirrhosis of the liver, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s Disease, and many other common ailments. Astoundingly coffee drinkers, both women and men have lower total and cause specific mortality. Telomeres are caps at the end of our chromosomes that protect the chromosomes from sticking to each other and from fraying. Longer telomere length is seen in individuals who exercise, meditate, are on the Mediterranean diet and those who drink coffee. Here is a mind boggling fact. Increase caffeine intake is linked with shortened telomeres, while increased coffee intake is linked with longer telomeres. Coffee has thousands of constituents and it is not caffeine that confers the health benefits.
Yes, I for one, believe Sanjiv’s findings. I have been a lifelong coffee drinker. I am happy to report that I am on zero meds, and have decent blood pressure. Now, don’t get me wrong, I have to watch it, but I have never had to take BP meds, or any others. Add to that, I don’t drink or smoke. But some feel the time we drink our morning coffee is wrong.
When Is The Best Time To Coffee?
A new study says drinking coffee first thing in the morning may not be the best way to wake up. According to Fox News, Dr. Deborah Lee, a U.K.-based doctor, said that drinking coffee first thing in the morning might not be the best bet.
“Elevated levels of cortisol may impact your immune system, and if they’re already at their peak when waking up, drinking coffee as soon as your eyes open may do more harm than good, and may even make you immune to caffeine over a long period of time.”
Lee says that drinking coffee TOO early throws off your body’s natural cortisol level. In other words, our body has a natural wake up mechanism, that coffee messes up, if consumed too early. She recommends waiting 45 minutes to the first cup, as the cortisol level begins to dip.
But other experts say there is no real evidence that changing your java time will help you wake up better. There is no one-size-fits-all, plan.
My size is a laaaaaage regulah….at DD’s please. And make that first thing!
Foods You Should Probably Skip Air Frying
Large Bone-In Meat
We’re not talking about chicken wings here, we’re talking about large whole chickens. You’re better off sticking to an oven when it comes to cooking them. If you’re wondering why, chicken must be cooked to a specific temperature internally before being consumed. According to the USDA, all poultry should reach a safe minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Unfortunately, air frying this food item doesn’t guarantee an even cook. But hey, at least chicken wings are small enough to get an even crisp. Just make sure you line the air fryer basket first if it’s raw meat.
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Wet Batters
An air fryer is not a deep fryer. So, if you’re looking to toss battered fries, meat cutlets, or battered veggies, think again. There’s a big chance the batter will drip down the base of the machine, causing a big mess and major cleanup after. Bad enough, some people didn’t know you even had to clean an air fryer regularly. No really, someone on Reddit shared that they didn’t wash their air fryer basket after each use. “I don’t think I’ve ever washed it lol. I’ve had it for 8 months and decided to finally wash it today,” they wrote. They continued to say how there was a bunch of “solidified juices” and “fat/ grease” from steak and chicken.
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Cheesy Foods
It’s possible to make your favorite cheesy snacks in an air fryer. But it can get messy. AllRecipes cautions against air frying cheese. This isn’t because of health reasons but for cleanup purposes. They point out that cheese melts fast. The outlet suggests sticking to foods that effectively hold the cheese in place. Maybe, just stick to frozen cheeses like mozzarella sticks.
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Leafy or Chard Greens
Sure you can go ahead and put those Brussels sprouts or broccoli in the air fryer. But skip putting spinach, collard, or chard leaves in. If you haven’t tried it already, light leaves might move and shift around during the cooking process. You may also come across a fairly dry vegetable if you don’t put a little oil with it. And, of course, you don’t want to forget the seasonings.
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Popcorn
Some people have tried it but you probably shouldn’t. Most air fryer models won’t reach the required temperature to pop the kernels. According to Jolly Time Pop Corn, the best popping temperature is between 400 and 460 degrees Fahrenheit. Plus, popcorn kernels can become lodged within the air fryer’s heating element, which can potentially cause it to short.
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Pasta, Quinoa, Rice, Grains
Some grains like bread can be cooked in an air fryer. However, it can get a little tricky with lighter breads like toast and English muffins due to the air making them fly around. But anything like pasta, quinoa, and rice doesn’t do too well. Raw grains need to absorb water to cook. But there is some good news. If you have rice that’s already cooked, just add a little oil to reat in the air fryer.
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