Brewing up ‘magic coffee’ keeps me strong and breathing well

Shortly after I begin to stir in the morning, I stir some nutrients into my morning coffee. I have shared my “magic coffee” recipe with many of my friends with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and I thought I’d share the benefits of the brew with you, too.

Magic coffee isn’t something I learned from social media influencers, but a drink my doctor and I formulated together to help me gain weight and help prevent another pneumothorax (lung collapse).

COPD affects not only the lungs, but the entire body. Unintentional weight loss and muscle wasting are common, and when the respiratory muscles are weakened, breathing becomes even more difficult. Gaining weight, especially lean mass, can improve stamina, reduce hospitalizations, and even lower the risk of pneumothorax.

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My magic coffee recipe

First, I pour about 2 tablespoons of half-and-half into the cup, along with 1/4 cup of coffee. I then add a heaping spoonful of cocoa powder and stir with a whisk. Next, I add a heaping spoonful of Ensure powder and a heaping teaspoon of whey protein powder.

Once I have added all my extra ingredients, I fill the rest of the cup with coffee and whisk the drink to ensure it’s well blended.

Benefits of the brew

Cocoa powder is rich in flavonoids, compounds that are known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. I’ve noticed less inflammation in my digestive system, so hopefully the same is true for my lungs. The consistency and diameter of my stool improve when I drink my magic coffee.

Caffeine is a weak bronchodilator, so it should start relaxing my airways and improving airflow even before I use my inhaler in the morning. Tea drinkers could swap out the coffee in this recipe with caffeinated tea.

Ensure powder adds essential vitamins, minerals, and calories to the drink. You can substitute other nutritional drink powders, such as Carnation Breakfast Essentials, if you can’t find the powdered version of Ensure. I order it in bulk from Walmart.

Whey protein powder is rich in essential amino acids — the building blocks of protein. Of the 20 amino acids required for protein synthesis, our body can only make 11; the other nine must come from diet. Adding protein powder to my magic coffee helps my body build and repair muscles.

In addition, a 2020 study showed that adults with COPD who consumed a whey protein beverage fortified with magnesium and vitamin C had reduced inflammation and increased muscle strength. Ensure powder contains both magnesium and vitamin C.

Half-and-half adds calories, which can help with weight gain, but I mostly use it to mellow out the taste of the brew. The downside of half-and-half is that it’s high in saturated fats, which can increase “bad” cholesterol. Thankfully, my cholesterol has remained at a healthy level.

If you are struggling to gain weight or muscle mass, talk to your doctor about giving my magic coffee a try. You could even leave out the coffee and make a “magic smoothie” by blending the other ingredients with milk. If you do try it, let me know what you think!

Note: COPD News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of COPD News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.