A Cup of Joe
Recently, I was talking with a family member who gave up coffee. She explained how she noticed that it made her very talkative and almost jittery. Now that she has been off of it for several weeks, she feels much better and thinks she is in a happier more natural place in her life. My mother had wanted me to write about caffeine for some time, but this was one vice I still held on to. Maybe I didn't want to learn the negative side effects because I didn't want to make any changes in this area yet. But, alas, here I go....
Many of us begin our morning with coffee. For some, it's a cup, for others it's a whole pot. The coffee connoisseurs in the audience will know there are many ways to brew coffee, and they can taste vastly different. There's the cold press, the french press, the pour over, etc. There is flavored coffee, bold, mild, the list goes on. Then we can change how we like it. Whether it's a latte, cappuccino, Americana, or iced coffee. It seems the sky is limitedless with this versatile substance. Some of these coffees are more like a dessert than the neurostimulating beverage in it's regular form. So let's get down to the nitty gritty.
Caffeine activates the adrenaline response in our body. It's that fight or flight mechanism that alerts our body that there is a threat nearby. We get this rush to get moving and our body overfills with adrenaline and other stress hormones. Unfortunately, we tend to spend a good part of the day in this zone of adrenaline. It has toxic effects on a cellular level that affect our health in negative ways. Adrenaline is secreted from our adrenal glands. These triangle-shaped endocrine glands sit atop the kidneys and are chiefly responsible for regulating the stress response. In a time of trouble these hormones help us escape danger, but alas, caffeine is not typically viewed as dangerous, but our body is being tricked into this response. Adrenal glands are key to a healthy immune system and proper thyroid function. Overtaxing our body day in and day out leads to adrenal fatigue.
If you live in a place of chronic stress, the adrenal glands are consistently excreting adrenaline and stress hormones to counter act the stress your body is undergoing. Adding caffeine to the already stressed body increases problems such as a rise in blood pressure that may last for many hours after the consumption of caffeine. Even that one cup of coffee in the morning has affects on the body until bedtime. Studies have shown that caffeine may impair insulin action causing a rise in the body's blood sugar levels. Gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and increased bowel movements could be an issue because caffeine is a stimulant. Those who have IBS, Crohn's disease or colitis should be extra cautious before choosing caffeinated beverages.
There's one more area though I would like to touch on....Bone health, particularly for women, is very important. When I do visit a coffee shop, the people I generally see consuming this dark beverage are adolescents and those in their late teens and early twenties. Coffee shops are fun and friendly places to go to "hang out." My own three daughters still enjoy coffee shops. But, between the ages of 12-18 years, young people require more calcium and protein for building bones. Caffeine has been shown to interfere with the body's uptake of nutrients for building strong bones. Other factors can effect the absorption of nutrients also like processed or fast foods, but for now we will concentrate on caffeine. The teen years are a vital time during our life to set the foundation of future bone health. If the bones are not formed property with all the nutrients needed, it sets up the body for impaired function in the future. This should be the reason to proceed with caution!
Coffee is also acidic and can interfere with stomach acids making the body more acidic and even leading to acid reflux. Adding to the acidity is sugar and milk; both are lower in pH and increase that acid attack. I still enjoy coffee, but at a small rate. My cousin, Cindy, introduced me to a frother. Now I need/want frothed milk with my coffee. It’s a fun and inexpensive indulgence that feels like a coffee shop speciality. I use organic almond milk with just 4 ounces of coffee/adaptogens in the morning sometimes sweetened with xylitol. It’s just enough to allow me to enjoy this warm beverage, and with the adaptogens, I feel better about consuming it.
Even though this post discusses coffee as a means of caffeine, other beverages such as chocolate, soda and tea fall under this too. Caffeine, no matter what it’s in, should be used sparingly. Consider when the afternoon hits and the sleepiness feels heavy, rather than grabbing another cup of coffee, drink some water or inhale some peppermint oil. Another “wake me up” is to jump up and down for a minute to get the blood circulation going. Perhaps you can ask others to join you! Who knows, maybe you can start a new trend?
Health bite: Caffeine should be used with caution.
