Coffee – A Cultural Icon:

I am convinced after living in the Pacific Northwest for over 12 years that Oregonians love their coffee at least as much as the Viennese or natives of New Orleans. Although I am not a coffee drinker myself, I do love the smell of freshly ground coffee and enjoy the social, lively atmosphere of cafes and coffee houses. I understand for some people that the ritual of coffee making and brewing is almost as important as the coffee itself. 

As a nutritional therapist, I help clients get sugar, chemicals, and all manner of processed foods out of their diet. So where do I stand with regards to coffee? Before I take a stance on this beloved beverage, let’s look at the effects of coffee on the body.

Coffee – The Bad and the Ugly:

Coffee is a narcotic beverage in the same alkaloid group as morphine, cocaine, and strychnine. The caffeine can combine with your stomach acid to form a more potent toxin called caffeine hydrochloride. As this toxin absorbs into your portal circulation and hits your liver, bile is released to flush it from your system. This is what creates “bowel regularity” among coffee drinkers. 

Heavy coffee use depletes the body of Thiamin or B1. This can result in fatigue, nervousness, anxiety, aches and pains, and headaches. Coffee drinking can also increase blood pressure, something for those struggling with this condition to consider.

Regular use of coffee can inhibit vitamins and minerals from being properly absorbed in the small intestine. Coffee causes excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and trace minerals into the urine, causing a diuretic effect that also contributes to dehydration. These minerals are all essential to optimal health. 

Caffeine is a nervous system stimulant and causes the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline, a hormone needed for a rapid fight or flight response. When coffee is overused, the adrenal glands can become exhausted. Exhausted adrenal glands create endocrine distress, anxiety, fatigue, insomnia, blood sugar imbalances, and the inability to manage life’s day to day stress.

The over 208 acids in coffee can be hard on sensitive individuals. Also, coffee breaks down into a byproduct called uric acid, and this acid is known to burden the kidneys, contributing to kidney stones and gout. Coffee contains naturally occurring carcinogens such as trichloroethylene (a solvent and degreasing agent) and nitrosamine, and other compounds that are hard on the liver.

Coffee can exacerbate health issues for those with high blood pressure, chronic headaches, insomnia, gout, heart disease, tinnitus, irritable bowel problems, acid indigestion, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoporosis, liver disease, and autoimmune disease for example.

And chances are if you are reading this, either you or someone you care about is sick, inflamed, hormonally imbalanced, nutritionally compromised, overworked, stressed out, fatigued, depressed, and toxic. In these cases, coffee is not part of the medicine required for healing. 

Coffee – The Good and the Wonderful:

According to John Hopkins, there are some research benefits worth considering.

• Recent studies found that coffee drinkers are less likely to die from some of the leading causes of death in women such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and kidney disease.
• Caffeine in general is not only linked to a lower chance of developing Parkinson’s Disease, but it may also help those with the condition better control their movements.
• Coffee can also help those sixty-five and older prevent dementia in general at 2-3 cups per day.
• Research shows that coffee drinkers are more likely to have liver enzymes within a healthy range than those who do not drink coffee.
• Dark roast coffee decreases breakage in DNA strands, which occur naturally but can lead to cancer or tumors if not repaired by your cells.
• It can provide some preventive benefits in the development of colorectal cancer.

Tips for Healthier Coffee Drinking:

Okay, you have probably figured out that it would be virtually impossible for me to endorse coffee as a healthy beverage for all my clients. It is truly a bio individual decision depending on the person, their symptoms, and overall goals. Certainly, if I told my clients they had to give up coffee entirely, some may never come back. So instead, I discuss pros and cons and more optimal ways to consume this wildly popular beverage with my clients.

I also understand that many drink coffee responsibly, find it a calming morning ritual, get a nice boost of energy to start the day, and treasure it as an important self-care routine.

#1 Choose Organic, Mold Free Coffee

Conventional coffee is heavily sprayed with pesticides and often high in mold. Try this instead, https://puritycoffee.com/.

#2 Get the Sugar Out

Use stevia or xylitol or just enjoy the sweet taste of cream or coconut milk in your coffee as it will serve as a natural sweetener and provide healthy fats. 

#3 Avoid Coffee Concoctions

Ditch the flavored creamer concoctions as they are made with hydrogenated vegetable oils and corn syrup. 

#4 Try Coffee Alternatives

Some options are Rooibos tea, a rich red tea from South Africa, Teeccino https://teeccino.com/, green or black tea and yerba mate which are great substitutes rich in nutrients and antioxidants. Trying these alternatives is a fantastic way to cut down coffee usage to one cup per day or eliminate entirely overtime. Choffy roasted cacao beans is another fun option to try.

My new favorite morning beverages are Living Ratio, and Om, which I enjoy daily. Both contain medicinal mushrooms and adaptogens, which are herbs that support the stress response, so it is an extremely healthy hot chocolate. There are endless options available now, and who knows, you may find one you like more than your coffee.

#5 Take Coffee Holidays

Everyone should know how they feel without coffee! You will only know the true state of your health when you are not propped up with caffeine. 

#6 Reduce to One Cup of Naked Coffee Per Day

Naked coffee – this got your attention right? One cup a day does not mean a French vanilla Frappuccino with caramel and chocolate syrup. Keep it simple and enjoy the real taste of unadulterated coffee. Drink your cup before noon to avoid sleep issues.

#7 Only Use Freshly Ground

Coffee beans will become rancid when exposed to light and oxygen. Grind your coffee fresh daily and store beans in the refrigerator or freezer. 

#8 Eat Before or With Coffee

Coffee spikes blood sugar and decreases appetite. Your body needs fuel to run the day, so drink your cup of coffee with a protein rich, nutrient dense breakfast.

The ideal is that we can all function well and have abundant energy without caffeine or sugar to prop us up, however, if you must have your one cup of coffee per day enjoy it without guilt (assuming you are in decent health) and incorporate some of the above tips.