Is Coffee Healthy?
There is nothing like a well made coconut milk latte, or that first sip of perfectly made organic coffee press, when you are a coffee lover.
Coffee lovers, you get what I mean, right? 😉
Wayne Dyer said that he has a spiritual experience every morning with his coffee, and I can understand what he meant by that.
There is a lot of literature out there that poses a case for both sides of whether or not coffee is actually good for us, or not.
Some functional medicine doctors I follow say to cut it out completely, while others say that there are many health benefits to drinking coffee in moderation.
I have been a one cuppa day kinda girl since forever.
And I LOVE my morning coffee ritual of grinding my organic beans, and crafting the perfect cup of coffee pressed bliss. It truly makes me happy.
I drink it with a little non-dairy milk, and no sugar, and rarely ever have a second cup. If I do, I am quickly reminded that my body does not thrive on high amounts of caffeine, by feeling more panicky, anxious, and short of breath. (Signs that your body isn’t loving the jolt from caffeine).
The good and the not so good side of coffee
To be clear, it’s not so much that coffee is the issue, but the caffeine it contains that is up for debate. So, this also applies to caffeinated teas, colas, and other sports drinks that contain caffeine.
Here is my take on it, after going on and off coffee for periods of time, and researching both sides of the coin extensively from a functional medicine perspective, I can see times when it may not be a good idea, and when it’s probably fine, in moderation.
Who should avoid coffee and caffeine?
If you have burned out adrenals or high cortisol – coffee is a bad idea.
If you need coffee to even talk to people in the morning, and need it to keep going throughout the day – this is a red flag that your adrenals are not functioning properly. We shouldn’t have a physical need for caffeine or stimulants just to function. I explain this further in the Energize Your Life Masterclass.
If you are already in poor health, with severe hormone imbalance, or other chronic health issues, the extra stimulating affect of caffeine could be making things worse.
Anxiety
Those that suffer with chronic and severe anxiety, and panic attacks need to also be mindful of how their mind and body responds to caffeine. If I am working with a client who is experiencing a lot of anxiety, I will recommend they go 30 days without it, and see if it makes a difference as part of their holistic treatment plan.
If you are under acute stress, this is another time to be mindful of your caffeine intake. Your stress response is already in overdrive, and caffeine only adds to that stimulation further taxing your adrenals.
Gut health
It is also possible, based on my research, that coffee can strip the body of essential minerals like magnesium, and disrupt our beneficial gut bacteria.
It can also trigger digestive upset in those with digestive issues or IBS.
Insomnia
If you experience insomnia, or have trouble falling asleep, one possible cause might be the cups of coffee you drank earlier that day. Try cutting way back, and avoid having caffeine after noon, and see if that helps.
If you are in good health, aren’t using caffeine as your primary fuel to function throughout your day, and you don’t experience adverse affects from it, here are some tips to keep it in balance:
1) Limit your intake. Have no more than 1 -2 cups daily, and have them before noon. Note that most travel mugs equate to 2-3 cups, so adjust accordingly. Too much caffeine can cause side effects such as edginess, blood sugar imbalance, sugar and refined carb cravings, irritability, anxiety, upset stomach, and sleeping difficulties.If your adrenals are really compromised, and you are in stage 2 or 3, I would recommend cutting coffee out completely for at least 21- 30 days while you work on healing your adrenals.
2) Go organic. Use organic beans. Coffee is one of the most highly sprayed crops that exist. Pesticides in your coffee anyone?
3) Skip the sugar. Be aware of how much sugar you are dumping into your cup. Its pretty common for people to dump 2 – 3 packets of sugar in to their java, or to pour large amounts of sugar loaded flavored coffee whiteners in without awareness. This can set you up for a lot of ups and downs with your blood sugar, mood and energy levels during the day. Try using small amounts of coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey if you must sweeten your cuppa.
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4) Avoid coffee on an empty stomach. Have your coffee with protein to help your body metabolize the caffeine and keep blood sugar balanced. Avoid having it on an empty stomach, especially with adrenal fatigue. If I don’t eat a proper breakfast before my java, I get shaky and have a low blood sugar response once the caffeine sets in. This often leaves us reaching for anything and everything in sight to balance out our blood sugar levels.
5) Avoid if you have burnout. If you experience exhaustion and have signs of Adrenal Fatigue, you will need to remove caffeine for awhile to allow your adrenals to heal, along with a holistic mind-body protocol to help your body re-balance.
I think with all things, the relationship we have to what we put into our body is key.
If you are dumping copious amounts of coffee into your body every day, you might ask yourself why you need to do this.
Likely there is an adrenal issue going on, in which case that must be dealt with.
If you are like me, and that morning cup is a little slice of heaven, and part of your morning ritual and overall healthy lifestyle, enjoy the simple pleasures of life, and really soak them in.
Just pay attention to how it makes your body feel. In the end our body will tell us what we need to know.
It’s all about balance. And life is meant to be truly savored.
If you’d like to experience a complimentary breakthrough session with me, so we can dig in to what is blocking you from feeling full of energy, click below to apply.
In health,
Leanne