Coffee can be good
I could present a long list on the benefits of coffee such as preventing certain diseases, reducing the risk of a heart attack, and even helping with longevity. However, even with all the benefits, there’s always a downside. This typically happens when something is misused or abused. Coffee is no different. Below is a list of the negative effects of coffee. I’m a strong believer that coffee can do more good than harm. But it is important to understand that without moderation, coffee can have an adverse effect on your health.
Coffee can be bad
#1: The caffeine in coffee increases catecholamines, which are your stress hormones. The stress response elicits cortisol and increases insulin. Insulin increases inflammation, and this makes you feel less than optimal.
#2: Habituation to caffeine decreases insulin sensitivity, making it difficult for your cells to respond appropriately to blood sugar. High blood sugar levels lead to arterial deterioration and increased risk of mortality related to cardiovascular disease.
#3: Unfiltered coffee has the highest amount of beneficial antioxidants, yet it also leaks the most diterpenes into your system. These diterpenes have been linked to higher levels of triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL levels.
#4: The helpful chlorogenic acids that may delay glucose absorption in the intestine have also been shown to increase homocysteine levels – an indicator for increased risk of cardiovascular disease, which tends to be elevated in diabesity.
#5: The acidity of coffee is associated with digestive discomfort, indigestion, heartburn, GERD, and dysbiosis (imbalances in your gut flora).
#6: Addiction is often an issue with coffee drinkers and makes it really difficult to rely on the body’s natural source of energy. Ask a coffee drinker about how it feels to withdraw from coffee, and you will mistake their story for that of a drug addict’s…
#7: Associative addictions trend with coffee – who doesn’t immediately think of warm, frothy sweet cream and sugar when they picture coffee? Surely the business of coffee has inspired a culture addicted to the sugary, fatty tastes of what has become more a meal than a drink! That morning latte is the epitome of food lacking nutrition density yet packing energy!
#8: 5-HIA, an organic acid and component of the neurotransmitter serotonin (the happy chemical) seen in the urine tends to be elevated in coffee drinkers, which means they may be at risk for lower levels of serotonin synthesis in the brain. Serotonin is necessary for normal sleep, bowel function, mood, and energy levels. It is a vicious cycle, as caffeine can disrupt sleep and promote anxiety and depression. We all know the person who tends to be tired, wired, and over-caffeinated…it may even be YOU.
#9: Elevated urinary excretions of important minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium have been noted in coffee drinkers. An imbalance in your electrolyte status can lead to serious systemic complications.
#10: Constituents in coffee can interfere with normal drug metabolism and detoxification in the liver, making it difficult to regulate the normal detoxification process in the liver. Another issue to be aware of with coffee intake is how certain medications such as levothyroxine (thyroid) as well as tricyclic antidepressants are poorly absorbed, making symptoms curiously worse for patients.
Don’t let the above information stop you from drinking coffee
Drink, Enjoy, Moderation
