Whenever a friend gives up a vice we've shared for years, I find myself rolling my eyes and mumbling "Quitter" under my breath. This is my quiet defensiveness because they are making themselves more healthy while I continue to indulge in whatever the bad habit at hand may be. After the realization that this isn't about me becomes clear, I go into friend mode. How can I help? As much as I try, I usually am the worst buddy to quit anything with; I continue to publicly indulge in the habit and then have the audacity to ride your ass. "You said you were only eating raw food! That dressing has clearly been heat pressed," I'll say, while munching on an egg sandwich on an everything bagel from the deli.
This New Year, one of my favorite office pals gave up coffee. Now, I gotta tell you, I was very shocked to see her choosing coffee over her three Diet Cokes a day habit to quit. Nonetheless, I supported her decision and was happy to pick up Red Bull on my morning coffee runs instead of her stand-by Cafe au Lait. A few months later, plagued with an awful hangover and desperately in need of her coffee fix, I understood what I had to do. I took to the internet to find all of the reasons why she should quit quitting coffee.
With coffee, I didn't need philosophical excuses or freedom speeches; these beans have some incredible benefits — and not just for consumption. Coffee has been found to be a great stress-reliever, the caffeine alone is a great way to rid yourself of a headache, and new evidence has found that coffee may lower the risk of skin cancer in women. Most Americans do not get their antioxidants munchin' on blueberries all day; they get it from chugging coffee on their morning commute. Coffee is filled with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties, and it's those same dehydrating qualities that makes coffee an ideal tool for waking up dull looking skin. Applying coffee grinds topically can firm and tighten skin cells, this makes for a bomb anti-aging product.
Next time you grind your organic coffee beans, save the grinds and you can wake up your mind AND skin! Added bonus: One less excuse to purchase solo cups of joe en route to work!
Exfoliating Mask
This is also known as the "Hangover Mask." Let me be real for a sec: If you hate the smell of coffee, this recipe isn't for you. My version of the mask uses a teaspoon each of nutmeg and cinnamon, a tablespoon of raw honey, and about two tablespoons of ground coffee. Mix all the ingredients together after adding a few dollops of a coconut oil. This is great for acne-prone skin because of the additional anti-inflammatory and antiseptic ingredients added to the coffee. The grinds will dehydrate any puffiness and tighten up skin cells. This mask is ideal in the AM; I found that it drew out the excess liquids from my skin almost instantly. After using this mask, no one could tell I was up until 4 AM catching up on Pretty Little Liars .
Wrinkle Prevention Mask
This wrinkle free mask will give you solid results; over time, you may notice a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles and puffiness that often comes with aging. The best part is you can use this mask on cellulite or other problem areas on your bod, too. Use equal parts water and coffee grinds, then add a combined tablespoon of grape seed oil and tea tree oil for extra moisture and increased circulation. Massage into your skin for about 2 minutes and rinse well.
Hair Darkening
Nature has given us several tools to color our hair. Personally, I never try them because I am always trying to darken my hair or longing for bright green streaks that nature can't give me. If you have dark hair and are looking to go darker or enhance your color, this is will be your jam. You can add brewed coffee to your favorite conditioner and reap some serious shine benefits. I add a cup of coffee to my coconut oil with a little bit of cocoa powder for extra color. This method should be repeated often for best results. If you don't shampoo and condition each day already, don't start now. Instead, fill up a spray bottle with brewed coffee and water, rinse, and apply products accordingly.
Ready to get grindin' and brewin'? Be sure to buy organic fair trade coffee to get the best nutrients and avoid any harmful chemicals that could have been sprayed on those beans.
