Pumpkin Pie Spice in Coffee Doesn’t Make You Basic

I know what you’re thinking. Pumpkin pie spice? How basic can you be?! But, hear me out. 

In Bryan’s words, if you have pumpkin anything, you’re a sheep because you’re following the trends. Sure. Fleece jackets, high leather riding boots. Yep. Those are super trendy, and hundreds of thousands of girls in America are wearing that in the fall and winter.

But pumpkin pie spice is another story. For the past month or so, I’ve been adding the spice to my daily morning cup of Joe. It’s freaking delicious. It adds the perfect boost of flavor and has loads of health benefits {so much more than boring white sugar}. 

Let me tell you all about it.

Before we get into why pumpkin pie spice is the bomb (dot) com, we should probably review what it is. Surprise! There’s not actually pumpkin in pumpkin pie spice. Most brands of pumpkin pie spice contain cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice, just varying proportions. You can even find brands that use ground orange peel, cardamom or lemon zest! Reminder to myself: PURCHASE ONE WITH LEMON ZEST. You could technically just make your own pumpkin pie spice, but I prefer to save time and buy it already combined from the grocery store. 

So, let’s get into the good stuff, my friends. Why is pumpkin pie spice so beneficial?

Cinnamon

First up is cinnamon. I wouldn’t touch anything made from cinnamon for years, because I had a terrible experience drinking Goldschager in college. UGH. But overtime, I’ve been able to have real cinnamon without gagging. {I STILL to this day can’t eat the fake cinnamon crap. So, no cinnamon candy or Big Red gum, which is terrible anyway}

Nonetheless, cinnamon is actually super beneficial. It keeps your arteries healthy, reduces inflammation, and manages blood sugar levels. It has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties as well.

Cinnamon tea is the BOMB at relieving period cramps. Try it out! 

Ginger

I’m a huge fan of ginger. I add fresh ginger to almost every one of my green smoothies to give it that extra zing. It’s a great remedy for nausea and can improve the absorption of essential nutrients in your body. Plus, it’s amazing for getting rid of inflammation. 

Nutmeg

Next up is nutmeg, which I think is a really underrated spice. It’s super fragrant and is rich in vitamins A, C and E. It helps relieve stress, circulate blood, and keep the heart healthy. Nutmeg can be used topically as an essential oil to help fight inflammation. 

If I have a few cocktails one night, I’ll add nutmeg to my breakfast in the morning {i.e., in yogurt or coffee}, because it helps detox the liver and kidney. 

Allspice

Last but certainly not least is allspice. Allspice contains antioxidants, which can help relieve mild pain, and has been used to treat and prevent growing infection, including colds and bronchitis. It also has digestive benefits. So if you suffer from IBS like me, you certainly want to give allspice a try. 

So yes, pumpkin pie spice may SOUND basic, but it’s incredibly delicious and has numerous health benefits. Next time you make coffee, add in a dash of the spice. You won’t regret it!