We love our coffee
For coffee lovers, finding the perfect cup is a lifelong quest. It’s a journey filled with a deep love for the art and science of coffee. I know that for me, coffee wasn’t a favorite of mine for years. Before I was diagnosed with MS (multiple sclerosis), coffee actually gave me a feeling of nausea—I felt sick to my stomach and had this horrible feeling of ick! However, since I’ve healed myself, I enjoy one black cup of coffee every morning. Looking back, I’m wondering if my stomach was full of candida (it’s very possible) and that coffee did not mix with my leaky gut at the time?
We all have heard of the good and the bad about coffee. Let’s go over the good first. Coffee has a lot of benefits and I know the coffee lovers will jump for joy when reading these:
OK, let’s go over the not-so-good reasons coffee is the best beverage.
Insomnia and Sleep Disruption: Caffeine can interfere with sleep patterns, making it difficult for some people to fall asleep or maintain restful sleep.
Increased Anxiety: High caffeine intake can lead to increased anxiety and agitation in some individuals, particularly those sensitive to caffeine.
Digestive Issues: Coffee can be acidic and may cause stomach upset, acid reflux, or indigestion in some people.
Dependence and Withdrawal: Regular consumption can lead to caffeine dependence, and withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, and irritability may occur when intake is reduced.
Increased Heart Rate: Caffeine can cause a temporary increase in heart rate and blood pressure, which may be a concern for individuals with certain heart conditions.
Nutrient Absorption: High coffee consumption may interfere with the absorption of certain nutrients, such as calcium and iron.
Increased Risk of Osteoporosis: Some studies suggest that excessive coffee consumption may be linked to a decrease in bone density, potentially increasing the risk of osteoporosis in some individuals.
Dehydration: While coffee contributes to fluid intake, its caffeine content can have a diuretic effect, which may lead to increased urination and potential dehydration.
Palpitations: Some individuals may experience heart palpitations or irregular heartbeats from caffeine consumption.
Social and Psychological Effects: For some, over-reliance on coffee can become a social crutch, making it difficult to socialize without it or leading to feelings of guilt when avoiding it.
Impact on Pregnancy: High caffeine intake is often discouraged during pregnancy due to potential risks to fetal development and low birth weight.
Jitters or Restlessness: Caffeine can cause feelings of restlessness or cause jitters, particularly when consumed in high amounts.
It’s important to consider how much coffee you are drinking. I believe the benefits out-weigh the negative ones if you keep these rules:
- Time of day: If you drink coffee, drink it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach and eat one hour later so that it doesn’t interrupt nutrient absorption like calcium an iron.
- Amount: For males, two cups of coffee should suffice. For women, one cup should be more that enough.
- Delete Unhealthy Additives: It makes a difference in your health as to what you put in your coffee. So many of us like those special “lattes” or coffees with milk and sugar. Black is best. My tip is to take out dairy and conventional sugar.
- Healthy Additives: Coconut milk (or some nut-milks), collagen, mushroom powder, and MTC oils. All of these have great benefits and I know there are many others that won’t compromise the taste of this robust drink
I’d love to share my ritual. I love getting whole beans of a medium roast. We all have our preferences, but I find most dark beens are over-roasted and leave a “burnt taste” and the light roasts are just are robust enough for my palate. I also like to grind my own beans because the flavor is more rich and flavorful when I do this myself.
I used to like a full cup of “flavored coffee” like hazelnut or vanilla, but it became too over whelming. Now, I use 3/4 scoop of a good medium roast and 1/4 scoop of flavored to give ME the touch of flavor I like. This all happens in my mini—made for one cup—coffee press.
I add one to two teaspoons of coconut oil to help me get “the good fats” (MTC oils) in for the day. For me, I don’t really taste it and it helps with my metabolism and food cravings later in the day.
For my husband, he uses his own coffee press for two cups of coffee. He likes his coffee bolder for the most part. He adds collagen, mushroom powder, and chocolate flavored protein powder to his. To me, this chocolate ruins the taste of the coffee, but I’ve learned that everyone is so very different when they enjoy the taste of their own cup of joe.
I hope this post “perked” you up!
Adrienne
xo
The Path to Reverse Multiple Sclerosis Naturally – paperback book
Nourish Your Way to Health – cookbook