Caffeine Quirks and Perks

Do you drink coffee? Or are you a Diet Coke fan? 

Here's my story.

I used to drink at least a pot of coffee a day. Yes, very true. I thought that if I drank it before 12 noon, I would still be able to sleep. Boy was I wrong! In fact, my habit made me a maniac. I was jittery, unfocused, and my heart would race.

Sure, I drank way too much. Even when I weaned with 1/2 decaf, 1/2 caf, my body just didn't respond well. I felt nervous, sweaty, and even exhausted all the time. 

Now that I don't drink caffeine, I feel amazing! I sleep great. I'm hardly ever tired, and I actually feel like ME.

There is a lot of controversy about caffeine. It does have its perks, but the quirks seem to outweigh the good stuff.

Let's take a look at the positives of caffeine. (Please keep in mind these are with low doses. Don't drink that pot like me! Pot of coffee, silly!):

1.  Helps mood, concentration, and keeps you alert. 

2.  For athletes, research shows that drinking caffeine one hour before the race aids in endurance.

3.  Some antioxidants in caffeine (especially the coffee bean) help fight against free radicals.

Sounds great, huh? Yes, it is not all bad, but please, and I repeat, the quantity and quality of the caffeine has to be top notch. Sorry to those who like their Duncan Donuts coffee (so many chemicals!).

Now on to the quirks:

1. Cardiovascular problems: Caffeine increases heart rate, elevates blood pressure and can contribute to heart disease. Caffeine is linked to coronary vasospasms. Coronary vasospasms cause 20% of all fatal heart attacks that kill otherwise perfectly healthy people.

2.  Stress:  Caffeine stimulates the excretion of stress hormones, which can produce increased levels of anxiety, irritability, muscle pain, insomnia, and lower immunity.

3.  Blood sugar swings:  Caffeine stimulates  a temporary surge in blood sugar followed by an overproduction of insulin, which causes that sugar crash and keeps you grabbing for the carbs. This rollercoaster causes weight gain since insulin's message to the body is to store excess sugar as fat.

4.  Digestive problems:  Caffeine can produce a burning sensation in your stomach after drinking it. Coffee, especially, increases the secretion of hydrochloric acid, which leads to ulcers.  

5.  Nutritional Deficiencies:  Caffeine inhibited the absorption of some nutrients in addition to causing the urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, trace minerals.  ALERT:  I ended up passing 3 kidney stones in grad school because, in place of water, I drank Diet Coke all day. After going through that, I never drank sodas again AND water is now my best friend.

6.  Male and Female Health Problems: For men, by eliminating caffeine, risk for urinary and prostate cancer is significantly reduced. For women, PMS, osteoporosis, infertility, and menopausal problems such as hot flashes are all exacerbated by caffeine consumption.

7.  Aging:  As you get older, your body can't handle the same level of caffeine as you could in your 20's. The production of DHEA, melatonin, and other hormones decline with age, but caffeine speeds up this process. Caffeine dehydrates the body and contributes to aging of the skin and kidneys.

8. Adrenal Exhaustion:  This inflammatory condition can lead to many autoimmune problems and fatigue, stress, etc.  You can take a saliva test (usually given by a naturopath) if you are feeling extra tired, anxious, and can't sleep at night.

Now that you have some facts, what do you think?  Do you like coffee or sodas? Do you need caffeine to get through the day? OR have you done away with it? 

Lisa Consiglio Ryan is a Certified Health and Nutrition Coach for busy, active women and their families. Areas of expertise include weight loss, stress management, detox programs, and special diets such as vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free, and gluten-free. Services include private consulting and group seminars.

Get your FREE guide to healthy living:   5 Shockingly Simple Steps to Getting Your Hot Body Back for Good.

Contact Lisa at Whole Health Designs for more information on health coaching programs: http://www.wholehealthdesigns.com.

Connect with Lisa on Facebook and Twitter.