That gingerbread latte is seriously good for your health

Starting in October, we are all focused on the special flavors that our coffees can bring. From Pumpkin Spice to Gingerbread, it’s really not surprising anymore, but that’s exactly why it feels like a tradition that is fully rooted in your winter rhythm. What you probably don’t know is that both coffee flavors use nutmeg! Nutmeg is a spice that helps enhance the other flavors, and gives it that wintry, recognizable taste you’re looking for during this cold time of year. Yes, it can be quite expensive to regularly stop by Starbucks for a special seasonal coffee, but maybe you can justify it to yourself by focusing on the benefits that nutmeg brings; it’s actually just an investment in your health! Because a gingerbread latte a day keeps your digestion okay.

So what exactly does nutmeg do for your health?

Besides being quite beneficial for your mental health to treat yourself to these kinds of delicious seasonal drinks, it also has a good effect on your physical health. Adding nutmeg helps your digestion function optimally. It stimulates the production of saliva, gastric juices, and bile, making your digestion work more efficiently and reducing bloating. We particularly experience that bloating more often in winter, as you unknowingly consume more sugar and other unhealthy things that your intestines have a bit more trouble with. The compounds in nutmeg also have a calming effect on your stomach and intestines. This means you experience fewer stomach and intestinal cramps.

Of course, there’s always a ‘but’

With all those benefits, you’d think that stirring a few spoons of nutmeg into your coffee every day is the perfect remedy for all sorts of discomforts. But you still have to be a bit careful. A pinch of nutmeg is more than enough. Too much can actually cause nausea and dizziness. So treat yourself to that gingerbread latte every now and then, but luckily there’s also that stick behind the door to not spend 30 euros every day on coffees outside.

Source: Naturallydaily.com // Image @amaka.hamelijnck