Caffeine - it's a hit. There's no denying the love that's out there for a daily dose of this natural high. From beans to leaves caffeine is a staple part of life today.
Notably discovered first in what is now Ethiopia, where shepherds noticed their goats getting extra frisky after eating the coffee fruit. Toasted coffee beans have travelled the world far and wide, becoming a key component of our culture and how we socialise today.
A caffeine high can feel like flying, with your mind endlessly seeing possibilities not obstacles. Creativity can blossom and it can keep us focused on important (but dreary) tasks.
Caffeine stimulates our central nervous system to increase our alertness, increase blood pressure and flow to the brain, increase metabolism, and improve our cognitive function.
However, whilst the effects of caffeine can take as little as 5 minutes to start the "crash" sensation that follows can drag on for 2 hours. Having raced our systems into an overdrive it is inevitable to have an internal stabilisation to help our body recover. Those who are particularly sensitive to caffeine will feel this more intensely.
This is where Adaptogens and mixing ghee (or coconut oil) becomes a very interesting and tasty concept to the coffee making process.
Adaptogens work to help stabilise our body's response to stress. Whether we consider caffeine stimulant or a relaxing addition to our daily lives, the effects on our body are the same. Therefore, adding adaptogens helps to level out the caffeine peak, as well as the dip that follows. The result is a longer lasting effect of caffeine that comes without the jitters.
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) and Cordyceps (Cordyceps militaris) are two powerful mushrooms that are a key part of traditional Chinese medicine's apothecary. Reishi is particularly renowned for its immune system protective properties, helping to make use of our immune system when it's most needed. It also helps to control blood sugar levels and is a potent antioxidant esteemed in Chinese medicine for helping us to live longer lives.
Cordyceps is a mushroom that is most renowned for its ability to effectively manage our energy output, particularly during exercise, where it is seen as hugely beneficial to physical and mental performance. It is also regarded as a potent herb for longevity, protecting our cell's engine rooms - the mitochondria, with it's powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.
Adding fats is also a smart addition because the majority of caffeine absorption takes place in the stomach, whereas fates are typically broken down by sequestration in our bile in the small intestine. So having fats present when consuming coffee helps to naturally slow the absorption process of caffeine.
So, how to do this at home? Here's our fool-proof recipe for a bulletproof coffee that will leave you in the flying zone for longer :)
- 1 x Espresso or 220ml of filter coffee - we used Jaguar Siembra's Tayrona beans, freshly ground.
- 1 tsp of Golden Shrooms
- 1 tsp of organic ghee or coconut oil.
Add all of the ingredients as soon as the coffee is made. Add to a high-speed blender or whisk well until smooth and creamy.
You can also watch the video of cofounder Tom making this here
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