‘Tis the season for flavored treats! There has been much news lately on the concern over the ingredients found in Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte. While we agree this is not our beverage of choice, neither are many of the “copycat recipes” that are recommended as healthy alternatives. Let us explain…
Although we already know coffee shop lattes are filled with artificial and potentially harmful ingredients, many people will overlook the fact that the copycat recipes they are attempting at home are equally as dangerous when the correct ingredients are not used.
We've got a healthy, and more importantly safe alternative recipe for you below. But first, take a look at these facts:
Let's begin with coffee…
Even with all the health benefits and the tremendous variety of tastes, colors, and blends coffee delivers, it may be the heaviest chemically treated food commodity in the world. The synthetic petroleum-based fertilizers commonly used in coffee production slowly destroy soil fertility and contaminate local water supplies. Buying organic coffee reduces the global use of these synthetic fertilizers and sends a message that you care about clean water, clean soil, and healthy beverages. To top it off, buying organic whole bean coffee ensures that you're avoiding the “fillers” that have recently been discovered. Read more about wheat, among other things, used as a filler in coffee.
Something else important to consider, think about buying coffee with the “fair trade” label. Using this label requires a certification process, and it indicates that the grower paid a fair wage to laborers. Think of “fair trade” as being to local economies and its workers what “organic” is to the environment and food. While fair trade coffee may cost you a bit more, you are paying it forward by supporting fair wages for workers in developing countries.
To make matters worse, if you're using K-cups, you should be concerned about the chemicals that can leach out of these plastic pods and into your coffee. K-cups are comprised of No. 7, or “other” plastic, which claims to be BPA-free. However, this plastic is allowed to be made with polystyrene, containing the chemical styrene, which is known to be a possible carcinogen that can cause problems with the nervous system.
The solution? To be safe, always use whole bean, fair trade coffee.
Next up, “pumpkin spice”…
This innocent flavoring has reason to cause concern. Did you know that most grocery store spices are irradiated? Irradiation is the process of exposing food to radiation in order to destroy microorganisms, bacteria, viruses, or insects that might be present in the food. While irradiation works to kill bacteria, it also disrupts the structure of everything it passes through. Specifically, irradiation breaks up a food’s DNA, vitamins, minerals, and proteins and creates free radicals (atoms, molecules, or ions that contain unpaired electrons and crash into each other, multiplying exponentially), which contribute to many degenerative diseases, including heart disease, dementia, cancer, and cataracts.
Additionally, irradiation destroys the essential micronutrients that can help you reach micronutrient sufficiency.
The solution? Always buy the Rich Food spice option, which is always the non-irradiated organic spice—our top pick!
Last but not least, let's talk about milk…
This one is actually pretty simple: animals given feed that is unnatural to their species and/or that live in overcrowded factory farm conditions are less nutritious than those raised on smaller, family-run farms and fed their natural diet. Conventional dairy is not only loaded with hormones and antibiotics that are given to the animals during their lifetime, but they are also much less nutritious. Factory farms feed their animals an unnatural GMO feed, versus pasturing and grass feeding. The source of your dairy is extremely important to consider when purchasing it. We suggest you take a look at the difference between organic and grass fed dairy to learn more about the best option for you.
The solution? Look for products that are organic and grass-fed, so that you are protected from harmful exposure!
Click the picture below to Pin it on Pinterest – and help us spread the word about the dangers of copycat recipes!
A healthy alternative to the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte
Ingredients
- 12 oz. hot organic fair trade coffee
- 2 Tbs. organic pumpkin puree
- Liquid stevia (10 drops approx. + or – to taste)
- 1/8 tsp. organic vanilla extract
- 1 Tbs. organic butter
- 1/2 tsp. organic pumpkin pie spice
- Optional: only for those looking for a brain and metabolism boost add in 1 tsp. SKINNYFat Original
Instructions
- Pour all ingredients into you vitamix or alternative blender.
- Blend on high
- Enjoy!
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