Coffee is the drink of the gods for many sleepy people in the morning. It gets them going full steam ahead when they would rather go back to bed. What about an alternative to your regular coffee? Have you thought about green coffee?

In this day and age, everyone is discussing how they can help the environment. There is a turn towards more organic foods. Organic products do not use chemical pesticides during the growing process to limit the amount of possible toxins in the food later on. You can have organic brown or black coffee, but green coffee adds a new twist.

Another hot topic is antioxidants. We are prematurely aging due to environmental conditions, the foods we eat and our other lifestyle habits. They produce free radicals that damage internal organs. One way to combat them is with antioxidants.

Organic green coffee contains antioxidants. In fact, some experts say that it contains more antioxidants than the green tea that is so popular these days. The antioxidants neutralize the free radicals and help the body to resist some of the effects of free radicals: disease, wrinkles and other health issues.

This green coffee is also used to boost metabolism and provide energy when you need it most. Two components of green coffee, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid, help you burn fat by speeding up your metabolism and also providing an energy burst. Most people drink coffee to get that morning zing, but with the green variety, you get the extra boost to whittle your waistline.

What about your cholesterol levels? You probably didn’t think that your coffee drinking had anything to do with that. With green coffee, there are none of the substances present that help raise your bad cholesterol level.

So how is green coffee made? The process begins like that of brown or black coffee. One important difference that we highlighted above is that there are no chemicals used during the growing and harvesting process.

The coffee is created from raw coffee beans that do not undergo the roasting process. They are washed repeatedly like other coffee beans and dried but that is all. The coffee tastes differently since it isn’t roasted but it has many fans that love the flavor and swear by it.

To add to the other health benefits, the lack of pesticides, chemical-containing fertilizers and other artificial enhancers used in processing keeps the coffee bean free of toxins that may be found in other coffees. Thus, there are no impurities in the beans and the resulting green coffee.

Maybe you have never heard of organic green coffee. It is a coffee variety that has many health benefits beyond keeping you awake in the morning. If you are interested, you can find it ground or whole in a variety of places once you know where to look.

Dessert is a part of the way of life in most places around the world. It is that treat you get after eating your meal. But, our dessert choices are making us a fat planet. Here are three choices for slimming down those delectable confections.

What is it about sweets? They satisfy our need for comfort. Eating good food releases endorphins in the brain.

If you were considering giving up your desserts, reluctantly, here is some help for you. You can make changes to your favorite desserts and still enjoy them, only this time it won’t be a guilty pleasure or a guilty indulgence. You will be happy because it is good and low in calories.

Banana Splits

Banana splits are a diner favorite. Over time, that skinny banana has gained a few pounds. Slim down the calories without slimming the taste. The banana itself is an excellent source of potassium. They are also filling and not too sweet.

Add three scoops of fat-free frozen yogurt or low-fat ice cream instead of the regular variety. The taste will still be creamy but with half of the calories and fat. If you know how and you have the time, create your own home-made ice cream.

Banana splits wouldn’t be great without the chocolate syrup. Dark chocolate is a welcome alternative. It contains more cocoa than even milk chocolate and is full of good antioxidants. The sweetness is milder but will complement your banana and ice cream perfectly.

Fruit Salad

Fruit is nature’s candy. If you dry them, the natural sugars are concentrated to create a sweet and healthy treat anytime you want one. To avoid preservatives, create your own. The same goes for an un-dried fruit salad. Use fresh fruit in season for a fresher taste. Add cranberries and raisins for that zing.

For a twist, try a fruit that you haven’t eaten before. Countries around the world eat fruits that we haven’t even tasted. Throw in a star fruit or a mango or some pomegranate seeds. Top with shaved coconut and whipped cream.

Cake recipes

We eat it on birthdays, holidays and other celebrations. Cakes are everywhere. For your cake, make it lighter and healthier by making a few substitutions. Use egg whites instead of whole eggs and applesauce for at least half of the oil that the recipe calls for.

Turn a regular cake into a chocolate one with a few squares of dark chocolate. It is better for you than milk chocolate. The same goes for making glazes or icings for your cake. Make a fruit compote to accompany your cake on the side instead of icing.

Don’t give up on your sweet treats just yet. Use these three dessert ideas to get you in the healthy frame of mind to create other desserts.