Tuesday

Drink Recipe Iced Coffee Energy Shake “Coffee with Tommy”

As the weather warms we all get the spring urge to be outside and get in shape.  It is well known that coffee can give you a boost in the morning, but how about a jump-start to your workout?  Scientific research suggests that enjoying the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee one hour prior to your workout proves very beneficial.  It can help you stay hydrated, reduce dry-mouth, can boost stamina, and has displayed pain relieving abilities associated with certain exercises such as running, cycling, and swimming. Here is a fast and simple recipe for what I like to call a Spring Power Smoothie.

1½ cups of cold brewed coffee (with a darker roast, you’ll get a richer flavor)
1 cup of milk (soy, whole, skim, your choice)
6 oz of yogurt (experiment with your favorite flavors!)
2 table spoons of wheat germ
2 table spoons of milled flax seed
1 ripe banana
4-5 ice cubes

Add all of the contents in a blender starting with the coffee and always finish with the ice.  Blend on high for 1-2 minutes.  The Spring Power Smoothie is a healthy and smart snack before a workout.  Yogurt is an immense source of calcium and facilitates digestion, wheat germ adds vitamin E, flax seed has been shown to lower cholesterol, a banana gives a boost of potassium to alleviate muscle cramps, and coffee maximizes your workout.

By Tommy Inglis: Tommy Inglis is operations manager for Tahoe Roasting Company and also coffeewithtommy.wordpress.com , located at 616 W. 4th St.  Visit them online at www.myspace.com/tahoeroasting