WHY SO MUCH CONFUSION OVER A CUP OF COFFEE?

Coffee is one of those things – you either love it or hate it. For some people it’s about the taste, for others it’s about how it makes them feel and for still others it’s about the aroma.

You’ve probably read all the crazy information first saying coffee is bad for you and to avoid it and then more recently that it could actually be good for you. The actual science behind why different people react differently to coffee is partly due to genetics but it also has to do with the amount of coffee you’re drinking.

Most people tend to equate coffee to caffeine when in fact caffeine is a stimulant and coffee is one of the most popular ways to consume it. Coffee contains anywhere from 50-400 mg of caffeine per cup, averaging around 100 mg per cup. A cup of coffee contains a lot of things besides caffeine and water, including antioxidants, and many of other compounds. These are some of the reasons drinking a cup of coffee is not the same as taking a caffeine pill.

The way our bodies metabolize caffeine, its effects on the mind and body, and whether coffee drinkers have increased or decreased incidents of disease are some of the things to consider when deciding whether coffee is for you or not.

It makes sense that the speed with which you metabolize caffeine will impact how you’re affected by the caffeine. And like many other things, not all people metabolize caffeine in the same way. In fact, caffeine metabolism can be up to 40x faster in some people than others.

The way you metabolize caffeine also has to do with your body’s amazing ability to adapt and become more tolerant to long-term caffeine use. It makes sense then that many people new to drinking coffee feel the effects much more than long term coffee drinkers.

About half of us are “slow” metabolizers of caffeine. We can get jitters, heart palpitations, and feel “wired” for up to 9 hours after having a coffee. The other half are “fast” metabolizers of caffeine. They get energy and increased alertness and are back to normal a few hours later.

Some effects of caffeine are more beneficial than others. Caffeine has been known to stimulate the brain, boost metabolism which also boosts energy and exercise performance. It can also increase your cortisol levels making you feel more stressed and anxious and can be dehydrating to your body.

There are lots of studies on the health effects of coffee, and whether coffee drinkers are more or less likely to get certain conditions. Many of the health effects exist even for decaffeinated coffee which does contain measurable amounts of caffeine, though less than regular coffee.

Some of the possible results from drinking coffee:

• Caffeine addiction and withdrawal symptoms (e.g. a headache, fatigue, irritability)
• Increased sleep disruption
• Lower risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
• Lower risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes
• Lower risk of certain Liver diseases

*There are mixed reviews on whether it lowers risks of cancers and heart disease

Hopefully you have been following me (and other health and wellness experts) long enough to understand that eating a nutrient-rich, whole foods diet, reducing stress, getting enough sleep and exercise are all important in considering for your risk for disease. It’s not just about the coffee. In fact, drinking coffee is just one of many factors that can affect your risk for diseases. And… you should never believe that there’s any one “magic bullet” that will make you overcome those risks because no one food or drink can make or break your long-term health.

You should consider that caffeinated coffee is not recommended for:

• People with an irregular heartbeat
• People who often feel anxious
• People who have trouble sleeping
• Pregnant women
• Children

So, if none of those criteria apply, then monitor how your body reacts when you have coffee. Does it:

• Give you the jitters?
• Increase anxious feelings?
• Affect your sleep?
• Give you heart palpitations?
• Affect your digestion?
• Make you crave sweets and/or dairy?

I believe that the best way to determine whether you have a sensitivity to a particular food or food group is to eliminate it for a while and see how you feel and how your body reacts without it. When you eliminate coffee products for about 2 weeks you will know if your desire for that cup of Joe is a habit that is not serving you, or something you really enjoy. You may even want to begin by cutting back the amount of coffee you currently consume, or switching to decaf if it’s more than just a cup in the morning.

I think it is also important to mention that coffee beans are often grown in soil contaminated by pesticides. If you do drink coffee it is highly recommended that you opt for organic coffee beans or from trusted sources with sustainable growing practices.

There are many people, like me, who have negative reactions to the caffeine in coffee but who can tolerate the natural caffeine found in green tea and the even more potent, powdered Matcha green tea.

Regular green tea contains caffeine, although less than coffee, and it also contains the amino acid L-Theanine, which creates a  state of “calm alertness”. L-Theanine provides a less jittery, more sustained energy boost – with no crash at the end, and also helps to improve focus and concentration.

Matcha is the powder produced from grinding the green tea leaf. The manner in which Matcha is grown and harvested is different than regular green tea and this process results in increased chlorophyll production and an increase in L-Theanine. Since Matcha contains the nutrients from the entire green tea leaf it results in a greater amount of caffeine and antioxidants. In fact, Matcha happens to be one of the very best sources of antioxidants in the world.

If you aren’t accustomed to drinking green tea then I suggest you give it a try. You can drink it hot or iced and you can even use the Matcha powder in some recipes. I want to share with you my favorite Minty Matcha Iced Tea Recipe.   It’s super refreshing and you can even bring along your own to have on vacation.

I hope this article provides you with some “food for thought” to help you make sense out of the confusion over whether coffee is good for you or if you might be better off drinking green tea or Matcha.

Yours In Good Health

Wholey Fit Nutrition, LLC
www.wholeyfitnutrition.com
info@wholeyfitnutrition.com