What you need to know: Green coffee beans are the unroasted beans of the Arabica coffee plant. Rather than being roasted like regular coffee, they are either ground into a fine powder or extracted and encapsulated into a supplement. Green coffee has a high antioxidant content similar to that of green tea and has been shown to protect cells from toxins thereby preventing damage to the cell’s DNA. This is important for preventing disease, cancer development and the effects of aging. Green coffee powder or extract can also boost energy, support the metabolism and aid in digestion – without the jitters and typical crash that follow a caffeine high.

Why you should try it: Green coffee is known for its chlorogenic acid content, which has far reaching therapeutic effects on the body. Chlorogenic acid has been shown in studies to reduce the relative risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease. It also has both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities, helping the body to fight off infection, while reducing inflammation. Research has also indicated that chlorogenic acid may exert positive effects on glucose metabolism, inhibiting fat accumulation and aiding in weight loss.

Let’s get together: With about the same amount of caffeine as a cup of green tea, we love to use green coffee extract as a morning or early afternoon energy boost. The powder has a very mild coffee flavor, making it an ideal addition to a chocolate smoothie, dessert or homemade breakfast yogurt bowls. There are a few brands of green coffee powder out there, but we always go for the raw, organic powder by Navitas Naturals.