Check out this simple blended protein coffee drink that’s got 10 grams of protein and will wake you up and leave you feeling full till lunch.
It seems like coffee is one of the most debated topics in the nutrition world. It always seems like a new research study is being discussed on the news about how coffee is good for you or why it’s not. I find it so interesting that there can be so much debate around such an innocuous seeming food. I’ll save you the time as sum it up that if you like coffee you should drink it, and if you don’t like coffee, then that’s cool too! Remember, this post is just for educational purposes, and you should always follow your doctor’s recommendations if you have a specific reason why you shouldn’t consume caffeine. Check out some common myths below and keep scrolling for my blended protein coffee drink that’s my new favorite!
Myth 1: Coffee causes dehydration
I’ve heard this one so much! Drinking coffee will make you dehydrated because of the caffeine. Turns out this is mostly false. Coffee is not dehydrating, and drinking coffee or caffeine will not make you dehydrated. You can check out this meta-analysis talking about many studies that found these results.
Bottom line is that coffee maybe shouldn’t be the only fluid you drink all day, but mixing coffee into your morning routine will not dehydrate you, and you don’t need to overcompensate with water after drinking coffee.
Myth 2: Caffeine will raise your blood pressure
While this is another common idea thrown around, the effects seem to only be temporary. Studies have shown that drinking up to 6 cusp of coffee a day does not have a significant effect on people’s blood pressure or on their chances of developing or worsening hypertension.
If you rarely consume caffeinate, and suddenly increase the amount you drink, then you may notice some changes as your body adjusts to the caffeine. However, if you are a habitual coffee drinker, you don’ t need to stop for the sake of your blood pressure.
Myth 3: Coffee negatively affects your blood sugar
I heard this one a lot at school that you shouldn’t drink coffee in the morning without food because it will spike cortisol and negatively affect your blood sugar. There doesn’t seem to be any hard evidence on this claim, and it seems like if you don’t feel any adverse effects from drinking coffee in the morning, then go ahead! One study found that drinking coffee did not spike cortisol, and coffee may have some anti-stress properties. Another study compiled data from many studies on green coffee extract and blood sugar and found that caffeine may actually improve fasting blood glucose levels. Another study pointing to drink coffee if you want to!
Blended Protein Coffee
When I don’t want to eat a whole breakfast, but I know I need more than just coffee, I’ve been making this blended protein coffee to get some nutrients in with my morning caffeine fix. I’ve been using a half serving of the vanilla Vega Protein & Greens which has 10g of protein. I don’t love the flavor, so I cut the serving size in half. Feel free to use your favorite protein powder and add as much as you’d like to up the protein content. I added in the Nutella to mask the flavor of the powder, to add some fat, and to make a drink that reminds me of my Starbucks Frappuccino days.
If you don’t know how to make cold brew, it’s really easy to do at home and you don’t need anything fancy. I have a carafe like this one where you put the grounds in a removeable core, but you can also use a French press and push down the grounds. You can also just mix the water and grounds in a jar and put it in the fridge overnight. Then in the morning, use a mesh strainer to sperate the grounds and pour your cold brew into a new jar. If that’s still too much, you can buy cold brew at the grocery store by the milk and creamer, and the work is already done! Want another breakfast recipe, check out my freezable tofu scramble recipe!
Blended Protein Coffee
Ingredients
- 1 cup cold brew coffee
- ½ cup milk
- 1 tbsp protein powder
- 1 tbsp nutella
- 1 cup ice
Instructions
- Add the coffee, milk, protein powder, nutella, and ice to a blender.
- Blend on high for 30 second or until the ice is chopped up and the drink is blended. Serve immediately.