Coffee additives that sweeten the pot

I drink one cup of coffee a day, always in the morning, because it smells good, tastes good and gives me a pleasant pick me up.

When scientists began touting the high levels of antioxidants -- a deterrent to disease -- in a cup of joe, there was one more reason to indulge.

A new product, SPAVA coffee, provides additional incentives. This certified organic and Fair Trade java is imbued with health supplements, much the same reasoning behind orange juice fortified with calcium, which has become a standard item in many fridges.

SPAVA boasts five different brews, each named for the result the coffee is engineered to achieve. Clarity contains ginko biloba, white tea and other natural substances believed to boost short-term memory. Flexibility, fortified with chondrotin sulfate, targets joint health, while Immunity is blended with echinacea, rosehips and other ingredients touted to ward off colds and promote wellness. There's green tea extract in Metabolism, designed to promote natural weight loss. The decaf offering, aptly named Calm, is fortified with passion flowers and Vitamin B, which help to keep nerves healthy.

Of course, you could just take supplements and wash them down with regular coffee. But if you're like me, a gal with an unopened calcium and Vitamin D bottle on the shelf, getting your goodies through food makes more sense. Lately, I've been starting my day with a cup of Flexibility.

Based in Houston, SPAVA is working its way through the health food store loop but hasn't yet landed in South Jersey. For now, you can buy the coffee for $11.99 for a 12-ounce bag through the company Web site, www.SPAVAcoffee.com