Ummmm coffee!
Love me or hate me, these are just the facts!! Some thoughts about coffee and caffeine for you to ponder, they might be new information for you or maybe not. I am just the messenger!
Caffeine is a natural compound (one of hundreds in coffee) with very drug like properties. It affects people in very different ways. I think a lot of it has to do with each persons unique level of sensitivity to caffeine.
The amount of caffeine in coffee can vary dramatically, from 100 Mg’s per cup to 500 Mg’s or more per cup, depending on the bean and how it is prepared. The half life of caffeine is about 6 hours. Which means after consuming a drink with 200 mg of caffeine you will still have 100 mg’s of caffeine in your body after 6 hours. The effects can last a long time.
We’re not sure exactly how coffee is connected to all these negative side effects or positive benefits. The coffee bean itself is loaded with many different nutrients and phytochemicals. I think the sensitivity of each person determines the effect of these chemical compounds.
Coffeeine my new name for Coffee because we all think of it as being a caffeine deliver system which it is. Coffeeine has many side effects, some positive and some negative. Much of the side effects seem to be person specific. For one person it will raise blood sugar levels for another it will send them crashing. So how can this beverage have such confusing effects on our body? Well, it seems to strangely have the inverse effect between people with different conditions. For example, coffeeine will make blood sugar go up dramatically in diabetics with high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) and send them crashing in people with low blood sugar levels (people that have hypoglycemia) however not all people with this condition. Also, if you don’t have diabetes coffeeine can possible help prevent type 2 diabetes but not always. But once you have high blood sugar levels in 90% of people coffeeine is going to make it raise from a little to dramatic amounts. Again it seems to be person specific. Read the comments on the site and you can see the variety of effects coffeeine has on blood sugar levels. Its crazy, from extremely high increase in blood sugar to making it crash.
So what do we know that is good about coffeeine.
Positive effects of coffee (according to studies)
- It boost metabolism causing the body to burn fat better
- Coffeeine may help you live longer
- “In our study, we found people who drank three to five cups of coffee per day had about a 15 percent lower [risk of premature] mortality compared to people who didn’t drink coffee,” says one of the study authors, nutrition researcher Walter Willett of the Harvard School of Public Health.
- Coffeeine boosts mental alertness
- Coffeeine increases athletic performance,
- Coffeeine may help prevent diabetes (only if you don’t already have diabetes),
- Coffeeine may protect against Alzheimer’s
- Coffeeine may help protect against Parkinson’s disease,
- Coffeeine may help boost liver function,
- Coffeeine is a great source of powerful antioxidants
- Coffeeine may help protect vision
- Coffeeine may help protect against some cancers
- Coffeeine may help boost mood helping reduce depression.
Negative effects of coffee (according to some studies studies)
- Coffeeine may not be healthy for type 2 diabetics, it can raise blood sugar levels
- Coffeeine may send blood sugar crashing in those with low blood sugar
- Coffeeine consumption may raise blood pressure and pulse rates
- Coffeeine can increased the risk of heart attacks among young adults
- Coffeeine is linked to gout attacks
- Coffeeine may cause an increase in breast tissue cysts in women
- Coffeeine can cause bone loss in some women.
- Coffeeine could cause incontinence
- Coffeeine can raise cholesterol levels in some people when brewed with out a filter.
- Coffeeine may cause insomnia
- Coffeeine can cause indigestion, reflux or GERD
- Coffeeine could reduce fertility in women
- Coffeeine increases the amount of sugary beverages consumed by people
- Coffeeine consumption can lead to increased anxiety and nervousness
Is de-cafe better? For people that are sensitive to the effects of the caffeine in coffee, yes it would be. And de-cafe still offers many of the same health benefits that regular coffee provides.
My take away on coffeeine sorry, coffee!
If you like coffee and it doesn’t effect you negatively, drink it. Remember it has drug like properties and has limits before the positive effects become negative effects! The limit for anyone is about 500 Mgs per day. That’s about four, 8 ounce cups of a milder roast coffee. Be aware of how it makes you feel. A little goes a long ways.
If you drink coffee because you need the energy I suggest you come off of it for a while and boost your metabolism in other ways. Then enjoy it for the taste, not the addiction.
Healthy wishes,
Wally Bishop C.N.C. I.N.H.C
Integrative Nutrition Health Coach
The contents of the email or written communication are not medical advice and should not be considered as such! This blog is for informational purposes only. Please consult with your physician or health care provider if you have medical issues and before changing your diet or lifestyle or taking herbal or dietary supplements. Never start an exercise program with getting your doctors approval. Never quit taking medications unless advised to do so by your doctor. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs.
Resources
http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/95/4/787.full
http://www.healthassist.net/blog/general/pros-and-cons-of-coffee/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12204388
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21432699
http://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/can-coffee-help-you-live-longer
