My separation period from coffee has been less than eventful this past 6 weeks. I am drinking tea each morning which has helped with the “ritual of making a drink” withdrawal and occasionally I will get myself a Chai at the coffee shop so I can still partake in the fun of ordering something. Other than the shifts in energy and mood (gasp!) the first 4 days of withdrawal, I have seen two significant changes in my body; breathing difficulties on several occasions, and water retention. Caffeine dilates and opens up our airways which could be helpful for those with conditions like asthma and bronchitis. Having a history of asthma, my body may have become adjusted to this daily intake and in readjusting post-withdrawal, along with the height of our allergy season, I had several occasions of difficult breathing. Coffee also acts as a diuretic. This helps to flush out excess fluids and toxins in our body. The water retention I experienced is most likely attributed to this factor. Ho hum.
Digestion, skin, energy, mood, and endurance all feel the same. So what to do?!
As I said in a past post, coffee intake affects everyone’s body so differently. For the most part, the reason it is so addictive to many of us is because of its many benefits:
- Increased alertness: Caffeine is a stimulant!
- Antioxidants: Coffee is rich in antioxidants which protect your body from free radical damage, prevent pre-mature aging, and high blood pressure. A study conducted by the Harvard Medical School states that regular coffee drinkers are 50% less likely to suffer from breast, colon and prostate cancer.
- Improved Brain Function: A recent study shows that regular coffee drinkers are less likely to develop Alzheimer’s in their later years.
- Chlorogenic Acid: Chlorogenic Acid, one of the primary antioxidants in coffee, has been studied to have several effects on the body; it may promote the flow of bile in the body, reducing the risk of liver disease, and it may be associated with the reduced risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Parkinson’s Disease. An aside: please also consider these foods that are rich in chlorogenic acid (and so much more): sunflower seeds, artichokes, blueberries, cilantro, carrots, tomato, and peanut.
And now for the not so fun part… to every pro there is a con, and then some… here are some adverse effects of coffee:
- Addiction: most regular coffee drinkers feel extremely weak and lethargic if they don’t get their daily dose. Quitting can cause severe withdrawal symptoms such as headache, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and depression.
- Weight Gain: Caffeine stimulates the production of stress hormones in the body, which stimulates appetite and craving for high-calorie foods. Although caffeine is known to assist with short-term weight loss, in the longer run heavy consumption is more likely to lead to weight gain.
- Anxiety: Drinking too much coffee can lead to over-stimulating the nervous system. The adrenal glands will become exhausted, and there will be a decreased resistance to stress. No fun.
- Heartburn: Coffee’s bitter flavor triggers stomach acid secretions resulting in occasional indigestion and heartburn.
- Fertility: Excessive consumption of coffee can lead to fertility issues such as infertility, miscarriage or low birth weight.
- Osteoporosis: Decreased bone density may occur with excessive consumption of coffee because of an interference with the absorption of minerals and nutrients in the bones.
- Dehydration: Due to coffee being a potent diuretic, over consumption can lead to dehydration. We do not want this burden on our bodies!
