🌸
Important Links on Coffee
🌸
Dr. Amen on Coffee
Dangers of Coffee
Side Effects of Coffee
Coffee /Alcohol / Brain
Coffee / Deadly Poison
🌸
Important Links on Coffee
🌸
Dr. Amen on Coffee
Dangers of Coffee
Side Effects of Coffee
Coffee /Alcohol / Brain
Coffee / Deadly Poison
🌸
| Coffee and Cocoa ... / The Deadly Poison |
Treat coffee for what it is:
Not a beverage like fruit juice, or an innocent little habit,
but like a DRUG.
but like a DRUG.
Coffee aggravates already overworked adrenal glands, it stimulates production of cortisol, and can exacerbate current hormonal imbalances.
In other words: for most people under stress, getting energy from coffee is like getting money from a credit card. Coffee pulls on the reserve energy of the kidneys and adrenals, putting the body deeper into biological debt.
The more exhausted the person becomes, the more desperately they turn to coffee as a stimulant. Instead of taking time to rest, to breathe and slow down, we overstimulate our nervous system until it breaks down...
In other words: for most people under stress, getting energy from coffee is like getting money from a credit card. Coffee pulls on the reserve energy of the kidneys and adrenals, putting the body deeper into biological debt.
The more exhausted the person becomes, the more desperately they turn to coffee as a stimulant. Instead of taking time to rest, to breathe and slow down, we overstimulate our nervous system until it breaks down...
Coffee: Legal Poison or Precious Medicine?
BY NADYA ANDREEVA
Do love your morning cup of coffee? Or do you think caffeine is a detrimental drug that should be banned? Either way, my hope is that this article will give you some food for thought.
As with most powerful medicinal plants, the story is more complicated than it seems. In Western society, we're always looking for absolute answers, but Eastern philosophy and alternative medicine encourage more flexibility and individuality.
Coffee is a medicine
According the the founder of Homeopathy, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, medicinal herbs do not provide any nourishment to the body, but have the power to alter its chemistry.
Coffee alone is not a significant source of calories or nourishment, but it has a strong effect on many systems in the body, including the circulatory system and the endocrine system.
Our innately intelligent body typically recognizes a strong medicinal substance and rejects its consumption by sending strong unpleasant sensations upon tasting it.
Which explains why, even if you drink coffee every morning, you probably didn't love it the first time you took a sip. Perhaps you drink coffee for other reasons than its taste. (Why else would you mask it with milk and sugar and syrup?)
Most children don't like the taste of bitter coffee, either. According to Homeopathy, it's our body communicating to us that this substance is not required in a healthy body.
Most people drink coffee because of its effects. Coffee:
The first two reasons are well-known, but few people talk openly about the third reason.
Nevertheless, many folks can't go to the bathroom unless stimulated by caffeine. Feeling plugged up is just as bad as feeling sleepy and sluggish. Coffee somewhat resolves all of these issues.
In a way, we are self-medicating every time we consume caffeine.
Coffee is a poison
Most medicines have side effects, and coffee is no exception.
You've probably heard many contradictory opinions about caffeine: Have it, it's good for the heart, metabolism, cholesterol and blood pressure. Don't have it! It's bad for nervous system, adrenal glands, digestion, and attention span.
Stephen Cherniske in his book Caffeine Blues: Wake Up to the Hidden Dangers of America's #1 Drug, lists a few scary consequences of regular coffee consumption, including: cardiovascular problems, anxiety, irritability, muscular tension and pain, indigestion, insomnia, depression, blood sugar swings, and nutritional deficiencies.
That said, I don't like to put things into categories of good or bad. Most natural substances and herbs are way too complicated to be pigeon-holed.
Since modern scientists are still studying the effects of over 800 active compounds in coffee, let's look at what ancient eastern herbalists have to say.
Ayurveda and homeopathy founder on coffee:
In Ayurveda, there are very few broad rules. One is that every item can be good for some people and bad for others.
Caffeine is no exception. What is nectar for one can be a poison to another says Dr. Lad, and Ayurvedic physician.
According to Ayurveda wisdom, coffee can be good for Kapha-prevalent people who need a boost to stay active and wake up their sluggish nature. On the other hand, Pitta types may find coffee too acidic and Vata types might feel drained from it.
Claudia Welch, a doctor of Oriental Medicine, agrees with Dr. Lad that coffee can be skillfully used as medicine in some cases but can be detrimental in other cases.
"When it comes to women dealing with stress on daily basis," says Dr. Welch, "it's best to give up coffee at least for some time, no matter what their body constitution is."
Coffee aggravates already overworked adrenal glands, it stimulates production of cortisol, and can exacerbate current hormonal imbalances.
In other words: for most people under stress, getting energy from coffee is like getting money from a credit card. Coffee pulls on the reserve energy of the kidneys and adrenals, putting the body deeper into biological debt.
The more exhausted the person becomes, the more desperately they turn to coffee as a stimulant. Instead of taking time to rest, to breathe and slow down, we overstimulate our nervous system until it breaks down.
Claudia also mentioned that not all caffeine is created equal. While tea and coffee both have caffeine, they have a very different effect on the body due to different innate qualities. Tea is bitter, light, astringent, and comes from a leaf. Coffee is heavy, oily, grounding, hot, and comes from a bean.
Most women might be craving coffee not just because of caffeine but because they are missing grounding and heaviness due to high stress. In this case, it might be best to substitute coffee not with tea but with another grounding substance, like dandelion root or chicory, advises Dr. Welch.
Dr. Hahnemann also notes that coffee can make us less aware of our body's natural urges to eat when hungry, to rest when tired, or to drink when thirsty. Basically, it deafens us to our internal voice to some degree.
I did an interesting caffeine experiment recently and learned a few cool things about caffeine, energy, and digestion relationship in my body. You can read my story here.
Caffeine and your bowel movements: the secret connection
As I mentioned above, many people drink coffee to stimulate elimination. (Sorry, but I had to be honest!)
While in the short-term, coffee can help stimulate bowel movements, over the long-term it creates constipation.
According to ayurveda, coffee can lead to chronic constipation by over stimulating the gastro-colic reflex. Once over-stimulated, the reflex loses its normal ability to be initiated by a morning glass of water and the individual becomes dependent upon coffee to pass stool.
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, part of the National Institutes of Health, reports that caffeine can have a negative effect on digestion and lead to or exacerbate constipation.
Caffeine can lead to dehydration, and people experiencing constipation may experienced worsened symptoms if they drink caffeinated drinks, such as coffee.
Since coffee is a duaretic, it can lead to dehydration, which in turn can make stools dryer and harder to pass. Coffee, in part because of the caffeine it contains, leads to an increase in stomach acid production.
Greater amounts of stomach acid are linked to increased intestinal activity. Because IBS primarily manifests as a disorder of cramping and gastrointestinal overreactivity, the increase in stomach acid as a result of drinking coffee can lead to a marked worsening in symptoms.
Natural and Ayurvedic Coffee alternatives
Quitting coffee can seem like a great idea--but, as with any drug, it is not an easy task.
Fortunately, Ayurveda has some great options, including an herbal cappuccino!
Turns out that, when roasted, chicory tastes similar to coffee and can be used as a great coffee alternative.
The company Teeccino took it a few steps further and created amazing herbal coffee alternatives. Their ingredients are organic, the flavors are delicious, and they have gluten-free options.
Ayurveda offers different coffee substitutes for different doshas.
Dr. Alakananda Devi says that Brahmi tea is the best coffee substitute for vata types, calming anxiety, panic disorder and insomnia. A good morning coffee substitute for pitta is “coriander coffee.”
Coriander seeds are roasted, ground and made into a beverage. The roasting provides a coffee-like bitterness while the coriander seeds are pitta-calming and soothing GI.
Ginger tea, made from organic ginger root powder is the best morning beverage alternative for kapha, providing a natural stimulation to the system.
Tulsi tea is another great adaptogenic herb that can be used as a tea base for most people. To help restore adrenal glands that might have been depleted by coffee, one can take adaptogenic herbs such as Ashwagandha.
In general it takes about three to six months to fully restore adrenal glands if they are depleted by constant caffeine stimulation. During that time, it's best to rest and let your body restore.
To restore regular elimination, Triphala, priobiotics, and healthy fiber with plenty of water will help. Drinking a glass of warm water with lime or lemon in the morning can help stimulate peristalsis.
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-6537/Coffee-Legal-Poison-or-Precious-Medicine.html
BY NADYA ANDREEVA
Do love your morning cup of coffee? Or do you think caffeine is a detrimental drug that should be banned? Either way, my hope is that this article will give you some food for thought.
As with most powerful medicinal plants, the story is more complicated than it seems. In Western society, we're always looking for absolute answers, but Eastern philosophy and alternative medicine encourage more flexibility and individuality.
Coffee is a medicine
According the the founder of Homeopathy, Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, medicinal herbs do not provide any nourishment to the body, but have the power to alter its chemistry.
Coffee alone is not a significant source of calories or nourishment, but it has a strong effect on many systems in the body, including the circulatory system and the endocrine system.
Our innately intelligent body typically recognizes a strong medicinal substance and rejects its consumption by sending strong unpleasant sensations upon tasting it.
Which explains why, even if you drink coffee every morning, you probably didn't love it the first time you took a sip. Perhaps you drink coffee for other reasons than its taste. (Why else would you mask it with milk and sugar and syrup?)
Most children don't like the taste of bitter coffee, either. According to Homeopathy, it's our body communicating to us that this substance is not required in a healthy body.
Most people drink coffee because of its effects. Coffee:
- Gets you awake and energized.
- Is a comforting habit.
- Helps you go to the bathroom.
The first two reasons are well-known, but few people talk openly about the third reason.
Nevertheless, many folks can't go to the bathroom unless stimulated by caffeine. Feeling plugged up is just as bad as feeling sleepy and sluggish. Coffee somewhat resolves all of these issues.
In a way, we are self-medicating every time we consume caffeine.
Coffee is a poison
Most medicines have side effects, and coffee is no exception.
You've probably heard many contradictory opinions about caffeine: Have it, it's good for the heart, metabolism, cholesterol and blood pressure. Don't have it! It's bad for nervous system, adrenal glands, digestion, and attention span.
Stephen Cherniske in his book Caffeine Blues: Wake Up to the Hidden Dangers of America's #1 Drug, lists a few scary consequences of regular coffee consumption, including: cardiovascular problems, anxiety, irritability, muscular tension and pain, indigestion, insomnia, depression, blood sugar swings, and nutritional deficiencies.
That said, I don't like to put things into categories of good or bad. Most natural substances and herbs are way too complicated to be pigeon-holed.
Since modern scientists are still studying the effects of over 800 active compounds in coffee, let's look at what ancient eastern herbalists have to say.
Ayurveda and homeopathy founder on coffee:
In Ayurveda, there are very few broad rules. One is that every item can be good for some people and bad for others.
Caffeine is no exception. What is nectar for one can be a poison to another says Dr. Lad, and Ayurvedic physician.
According to Ayurveda wisdom, coffee can be good for Kapha-prevalent people who need a boost to stay active and wake up their sluggish nature. On the other hand, Pitta types may find coffee too acidic and Vata types might feel drained from it.
Claudia Welch, a doctor of Oriental Medicine, agrees with Dr. Lad that coffee can be skillfully used as medicine in some cases but can be detrimental in other cases.
"When it comes to women dealing with stress on daily basis," says Dr. Welch, "it's best to give up coffee at least for some time, no matter what their body constitution is."
Coffee aggravates already overworked adrenal glands, it stimulates production of cortisol, and can exacerbate current hormonal imbalances.
In other words: for most people under stress, getting energy from coffee is like getting money from a credit card. Coffee pulls on the reserve energy of the kidneys and adrenals, putting the body deeper into biological debt.
The more exhausted the person becomes, the more desperately they turn to coffee as a stimulant. Instead of taking time to rest, to breathe and slow down, we overstimulate our nervous system until it breaks down.
Claudia also mentioned that not all caffeine is created equal. While tea and coffee both have caffeine, they have a very different effect on the body due to different innate qualities. Tea is bitter, light, astringent, and comes from a leaf. Coffee is heavy, oily, grounding, hot, and comes from a bean.
Most women might be craving coffee not just because of caffeine but because they are missing grounding and heaviness due to high stress. In this case, it might be best to substitute coffee not with tea but with another grounding substance, like dandelion root or chicory, advises Dr. Welch.
Dr. Hahnemann also notes that coffee can make us less aware of our body's natural urges to eat when hungry, to rest when tired, or to drink when thirsty. Basically, it deafens us to our internal voice to some degree.
I did an interesting caffeine experiment recently and learned a few cool things about caffeine, energy, and digestion relationship in my body. You can read my story here.
Caffeine and your bowel movements: the secret connection
As I mentioned above, many people drink coffee to stimulate elimination. (Sorry, but I had to be honest!)
While in the short-term, coffee can help stimulate bowel movements, over the long-term it creates constipation.
According to ayurveda, coffee can lead to chronic constipation by over stimulating the gastro-colic reflex. Once over-stimulated, the reflex loses its normal ability to be initiated by a morning glass of water and the individual becomes dependent upon coffee to pass stool.
The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse, part of the National Institutes of Health, reports that caffeine can have a negative effect on digestion and lead to or exacerbate constipation.
Caffeine can lead to dehydration, and people experiencing constipation may experienced worsened symptoms if they drink caffeinated drinks, such as coffee.
Since coffee is a duaretic, it can lead to dehydration, which in turn can make stools dryer and harder to pass. Coffee, in part because of the caffeine it contains, leads to an increase in stomach acid production.
Greater amounts of stomach acid are linked to increased intestinal activity. Because IBS primarily manifests as a disorder of cramping and gastrointestinal overreactivity, the increase in stomach acid as a result of drinking coffee can lead to a marked worsening in symptoms.
Natural and Ayurvedic Coffee alternatives
Quitting coffee can seem like a great idea--but, as with any drug, it is not an easy task.
Fortunately, Ayurveda has some great options, including an herbal cappuccino!
Turns out that, when roasted, chicory tastes similar to coffee and can be used as a great coffee alternative.
The company Teeccino took it a few steps further and created amazing herbal coffee alternatives. Their ingredients are organic, the flavors are delicious, and they have gluten-free options.
Ayurveda offers different coffee substitutes for different doshas.
Dr. Alakananda Devi says that Brahmi tea is the best coffee substitute for vata types, calming anxiety, panic disorder and insomnia. A good morning coffee substitute for pitta is “coriander coffee.”
Coriander seeds are roasted, ground and made into a beverage. The roasting provides a coffee-like bitterness while the coriander seeds are pitta-calming and soothing GI.
Ginger tea, made from organic ginger root powder is the best morning beverage alternative for kapha, providing a natural stimulation to the system.
Tulsi tea is another great adaptogenic herb that can be used as a tea base for most people. To help restore adrenal glands that might have been depleted by coffee, one can take adaptogenic herbs such as Ashwagandha.
In general it takes about three to six months to fully restore adrenal glands if they are depleted by constant caffeine stimulation. During that time, it's best to rest and let your body restore.
To restore regular elimination, Triphala, priobiotics, and healthy fiber with plenty of water will help. Drinking a glass of warm water with lime or lemon in the morning can help stimulate peristalsis.
http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-6537/Coffee-Legal-Poison-or-Precious-Medicine.html
The Dangers and Side Effects
of Drinking Coffee
by Frederic Patenaude
of Drinking Coffee
by Frederic Patenaude
The Dangers and Side Effects of Drinking Coffee
http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/blog/?p=2600
Dr. Mercola recently wrote an article on why he’s changing his mind on a popular beverage: coffee.
I rarely agree with Dr. Mercola on anything, as I think his advice is delivered with hype and often lacks substance.
But at least I agreed with him on coffee.
Mercola often warned against the regular consumption of coffee, and said it should only be used occasionally as a “drug” (because caffeine is a drug) in certain circumstances when you really need it. He gave the example of traveling across many time zones. One way to beat jet lag is to consume caffeine to stay awake and fit right in the new time zone, instead of falling asleep and messing up your sleep cycles.
But now in a recent article Mercola is changing his mind on coffee.
He now thinks that black dark roast coffee is good for you, and has a number of health benefits. He quotes studies that show that coffee may help with the following diseases:
– Type 2 diabetes
– Parkinson’s disease
– Alzheimer’s disease
– Prostate cancer
– Liver cancer
– Kidney cancer
– Etc.
Now in a moment I will give you what I believe is a more balanced view on coffee. But first, let me be clear that I absolutely LOVE coffee. I totally understand the love affair that the world has with coffee, and other caffeinated beverages, like tea.
But for me coffee has always been a love/hate relationship.
I love caffeine and its immediate effects on my body. However, I also know that I’m very caffeine sensitive and I know the short and long-term effects of caffeine effects on my body.
If I consume coffee one or two days in a row, I will inevitably get headaches as a result. I will also get depressed and lack energy a day or two after I stop coffee.
If I keep drinking coffee and make it a habit (I have done that at times in the past), I experience the following symptoms:
– Irritability
– Clouded thinking in the morning until I have coffee again
– Regular migraine headaches
– Back pain
– Extreme symptoms of depression that would be diagnosed as “clinical depression”
I know that I am more sensitive to caffeine than most people. Therefore, I treat coffee with respect. I don’t underestimate its effects as a drug and I stay away for the most part.
Like I said, I LOVE coffee and caffeine in general. So once in a while, I can’t resist having a cup of tea or coffee.
When I do, I love the immediate effects. But I know there will be some consequences.
I have found that if I don’t consume caffeine more than a couple of times a month (say 2-3) then I can manage with it.
There are times, for example when traveling, when using a little bit of a boost is not a bad idea.
After all, certain circumstances in life are unnatural to begin with, like traveling across multiple time zones in minutes or hours.
But what’s important is that I treat coffee for what it is:
Not a beverage like fruit juice, or an innocent little habit, but like a DRUG.
Just read the Wikipedia page on caffeine to understand why it’s truly a drug and what are its effects on the boy.
Caffeine Blues
One book that I read years ago and talked about many times on my website is “Caffeine Blues.”
To my knowledge, it’s the only comprehensive book that’s ever been published on why coffee is bad for health. (to purchase the book, click here)
On the first page of the book, you can read:
– Caffeine can’t provide energy, only chemical stimulation and induced emergency state that can lead to irritability, mood swings, and panic attacks.
– Caffeine’s ultimate mood effect can be letdown, which can lead to depression and chronic fatigue.
– Caffeine gives the illusion of heightened alertness by dilating pupils, quickening heart rate, and raising blood pressure. In fact, caffeine does not increase overall mental activity.
Caffeine blues lists many of the side-effects of coffee, some that are rarely talked about.
The negative effects of caffeine on the body include:
– Energy swings or periods of fatigue during the day
– Mood swings or periods of depression
-Headaches
- Gastrointestinal distress, cramping, diarrhea
– Constipation and/or dependence on caffeine for bowel movement
– Tension or stiffness in the neck, shoulders, hands, legs or stomach
- Premenstrual syndrome, menstrual irregularity, camps, sore breasts
- Painful/sensitive lumps in breast
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
– Irritability, including inappropriate fits of anger
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
– Light-headness/dizziness
– Waking up feeling tired
– Generalized pain (back, stomach, muscles)
– High blood pressure
– Ulcers
– Anemia
– Shortness of breath
- Difficulty in concentration
- Ringing in ears - Coldness in extremities
- Hand tremor
Now, to put things in perspective, not every coffee drinker will experience these symptoms, and for some the symptoms will only occur after a certain level of sustained consumption.
For some people, any consumption of any caffeine will lead to serious health consequences.
For others, like me, the limit is very low, perhaps a few cups of caffeinated beverage per month.
Some other people are sensitive to the high levels of caffeine in coffee, but can drink green tea every day. (Personally if I drink green tea every day I still experience many negative side-effects, including irritability).
Others seem to to process caffeine better and do well with a certain amount of coffee per day, like a cup of espresso.
But everybody has a caffeine “breaking point.”
But here’s what worries me with all those “pro-caffeine” articles: nobody talks about the fact that caffeine is a drug, that people self-medicate with it, and few are aware of the side effects.
Many people live with “clinical depression” that is in fact a consequence of drinking coffee. Nobody ever told them that depression can have physical causes and be as simple as the regular consumption of coffee, when one is very sensitive to caffeine.
I knew a guy who complained to me that he’d been depressed for years and didn’t have the energy to meet the day anymore. He thought his depression was caused by his marriage.
This was about 5-6 years ago. I suggested to him at the time to quit drinking coffee and read “Caffeine Blues.” He did and his depression went away in about 3-4 weeks after drinking coffee, but he told me that he only went back to his “true self” about 60 days after quitting coffee.
If caffeine is a drug, and we know that it is, then it may well have some benefits, like many drugs do.
I’m not questioning this research on how coffee may help with some health problems like diabetes or may help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
I have no opinion about those studies because I’m not an expert doing the research.
However, if caffeine is a drug that has same benefits, then it also has side-effects. And some individuals are more likely to develop those side-effects, just like with any other drug.
But nobody likes to talk about the side effects. It’s just not popular to question America’s most popular drug.
I’m not saying that there’s no place for caffeine in the world, and that everybody should quit drinking coffee. But you have to find out how your body can operate at its best, and for many people, that means drinking no coffee or caffeinated beverages at all.
But I want to hear from you. Do you consume any form of caffeine? Do you consider yourself sensitive to caffeine? Did you quit coffee or caffeine?
I’d be curious to hear your story! Let me know in the comment section below…
http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/blog/?p=2600
Dr. Mercola recently wrote an article on why he’s changing his mind on a popular beverage: coffee.
I rarely agree with Dr. Mercola on anything, as I think his advice is delivered with hype and often lacks substance.
But at least I agreed with him on coffee.
Mercola often warned against the regular consumption of coffee, and said it should only be used occasionally as a “drug” (because caffeine is a drug) in certain circumstances when you really need it. He gave the example of traveling across many time zones. One way to beat jet lag is to consume caffeine to stay awake and fit right in the new time zone, instead of falling asleep and messing up your sleep cycles.
But now in a recent article Mercola is changing his mind on coffee.
He now thinks that black dark roast coffee is good for you, and has a number of health benefits. He quotes studies that show that coffee may help with the following diseases:
– Type 2 diabetes
– Parkinson’s disease
– Alzheimer’s disease
– Prostate cancer
– Liver cancer
– Kidney cancer
– Etc.
Now in a moment I will give you what I believe is a more balanced view on coffee. But first, let me be clear that I absolutely LOVE coffee. I totally understand the love affair that the world has with coffee, and other caffeinated beverages, like tea.
But for me coffee has always been a love/hate relationship.
I love caffeine and its immediate effects on my body. However, I also know that I’m very caffeine sensitive and I know the short and long-term effects of caffeine effects on my body.
If I consume coffee one or two days in a row, I will inevitably get headaches as a result. I will also get depressed and lack energy a day or two after I stop coffee.
If I keep drinking coffee and make it a habit (I have done that at times in the past), I experience the following symptoms:
– Irritability
– Clouded thinking in the morning until I have coffee again
– Regular migraine headaches
– Back pain
– Extreme symptoms of depression that would be diagnosed as “clinical depression”
I know that I am more sensitive to caffeine than most people. Therefore, I treat coffee with respect. I don’t underestimate its effects as a drug and I stay away for the most part.
Like I said, I LOVE coffee and caffeine in general. So once in a while, I can’t resist having a cup of tea or coffee.
When I do, I love the immediate effects. But I know there will be some consequences.
I have found that if I don’t consume caffeine more than a couple of times a month (say 2-3) then I can manage with it.
There are times, for example when traveling, when using a little bit of a boost is not a bad idea.
After all, certain circumstances in life are unnatural to begin with, like traveling across multiple time zones in minutes or hours.
But what’s important is that I treat coffee for what it is:
Not a beverage like fruit juice, or an innocent little habit, but like a DRUG.
Just read the Wikipedia page on caffeine to understand why it’s truly a drug and what are its effects on the boy.
Caffeine Blues
One book that I read years ago and talked about many times on my website is “Caffeine Blues.”
To my knowledge, it’s the only comprehensive book that’s ever been published on why coffee is bad for health. (to purchase the book, click here)
On the first page of the book, you can read:
– Caffeine can’t provide energy, only chemical stimulation and induced emergency state that can lead to irritability, mood swings, and panic attacks.
– Caffeine’s ultimate mood effect can be letdown, which can lead to depression and chronic fatigue.
– Caffeine gives the illusion of heightened alertness by dilating pupils, quickening heart rate, and raising blood pressure. In fact, caffeine does not increase overall mental activity.
Caffeine blues lists many of the side-effects of coffee, some that are rarely talked about.
The negative effects of caffeine on the body include:
– Energy swings or periods of fatigue during the day
– Mood swings or periods of depression
-Headaches
- Gastrointestinal distress, cramping, diarrhea
– Constipation and/or dependence on caffeine for bowel movement
– Tension or stiffness in the neck, shoulders, hands, legs or stomach
- Premenstrual syndrome, menstrual irregularity, camps, sore breasts
- Painful/sensitive lumps in breast
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
– Irritability, including inappropriate fits of anger
- Irregular or rapid heartbeat
– Light-headness/dizziness
– Waking up feeling tired
– Generalized pain (back, stomach, muscles)
– High blood pressure
– Ulcers
– Anemia
– Shortness of breath
- Difficulty in concentration
- Ringing in ears - Coldness in extremities
- Hand tremor
Now, to put things in perspective, not every coffee drinker will experience these symptoms, and for some the symptoms will only occur after a certain level of sustained consumption.
For some people, any consumption of any caffeine will lead to serious health consequences.
For others, like me, the limit is very low, perhaps a few cups of caffeinated beverage per month.
Some other people are sensitive to the high levels of caffeine in coffee, but can drink green tea every day. (Personally if I drink green tea every day I still experience many negative side-effects, including irritability).
Others seem to to process caffeine better and do well with a certain amount of coffee per day, like a cup of espresso.
But everybody has a caffeine “breaking point.”
But here’s what worries me with all those “pro-caffeine” articles: nobody talks about the fact that caffeine is a drug, that people self-medicate with it, and few are aware of the side effects.
Many people live with “clinical depression” that is in fact a consequence of drinking coffee. Nobody ever told them that depression can have physical causes and be as simple as the regular consumption of coffee, when one is very sensitive to caffeine.
I knew a guy who complained to me that he’d been depressed for years and didn’t have the energy to meet the day anymore. He thought his depression was caused by his marriage.
This was about 5-6 years ago. I suggested to him at the time to quit drinking coffee and read “Caffeine Blues.” He did and his depression went away in about 3-4 weeks after drinking coffee, but he told me that he only went back to his “true self” about 60 days after quitting coffee.
If caffeine is a drug, and we know that it is, then it may well have some benefits, like many drugs do.
I’m not questioning this research on how coffee may help with some health problems like diabetes or may help to prevent Alzheimer’s disease.
I have no opinion about those studies because I’m not an expert doing the research.
However, if caffeine is a drug that has same benefits, then it also has side-effects. And some individuals are more likely to develop those side-effects, just like with any other drug.
But nobody likes to talk about the side effects. It’s just not popular to question America’s most popular drug.
I’m not saying that there’s no place for caffeine in the world, and that everybody should quit drinking coffee. But you have to find out how your body can operate at its best, and for many people, that means drinking no coffee or caffeinated beverages at all.
But I want to hear from you. Do you consume any form of caffeine? Do you consider yourself sensitive to caffeine? Did you quit coffee or caffeine?
I’d be curious to hear your story! Let me know in the comment section below…
The Dark Side of Coffee
http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/blog/?p=151
One of the things that many people struggle with when transitioning to a raw diet is an addiction to caffeine, more notably, coffee. Heck, I even struggled with it and every once in a while, I’ll be honest, the habit sneaks back into my health routine and I have to cut it out again.
Isn’t it funny that what started out as a European delicacy has turned into one of the most craved substances and addictions in the world.
People drink coffee more than any other beverage including soft drinks or tea. Second only to oil in world trade, annual coffee consumption worldwide was estimated in 2003 to be over 400 billion cups, with Brazil as the largest producer globally. Americans consume more than 400 million cups a day! So you can be sure that I have more than a few readers who drink the stuff.
Whether you drink or don’t drink coffee is a personal choice. But it should be a choice that is made with complete knowledge of the adverse effects rather than just being influenced by commericals and ads that promote it as a pleasurable cup of comfort, relaxation, rejuvenation, and source of health.
The truth is coffee is really a caustic placebo that can lead to major side effects, health complications, and disease but you don’t ever see a commercial about how that morning cup of java actually adds to the rise in health problems, do you?
Here’s an unknown fact:
Reliance on coffee to jump start your day is actually depleting your physical, emotional, and mental state.
According to Gayle Reichler, MS RD CDN, “Within five minutes after you drink your morning coffee, the caffeine begins to stimulate your central nervous system, triggering the release of stress hormones in your body, causing a stress (‘fight or flight’) response. Within the next hour or so, after the stress response dissipates, you will probably feel more tired and hungry.’ So what appears as “quick energy” is in reality a stress response triggered by the adrenal glands!
Dangers that lurk in the cup:
The major ingredient in coffee, caffeine (or otherwise known as 1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine) is the most widely consumed pharmacologically active substance in the world. Its major action is to stimulate the central nervous system. Excessive amounts in turn, increase the chance for negative side effects such as:
Caffeine can also have the same mind altering effect that similar psychoactive drugs such as morphine and nicotine have on the body creating pseudo-benefits. That’s why you’ll sometimes see someone smoking a cigarette alongside drinking coffee, because it acts as a double stimulant. That’s why, people who try to quit smoking, often need to give up caffeine and nicotine at the same time – and often fail as a result of the double whammy to their addictions.
Caffeine may also wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels, causing it to dip and rise which can masks true hunger and cause you to overeat (if your blood sugar is low) or undereat (if your blood sugar is high). You’ll find that diet aids such as Hoodia list caffeine as one of the ingredients.
Caffeine also increases respiratory rates, and for people with tight airways, it can open breathing passages. Caffeine is also a diuretic and a mild laxative. Again, two effects that are helpful to people who are trying to lose or control their weight. But it’s not wise to turn to caffeine when trying to make dietary changes in your life.
Caffeine is the biggest culprit behind the coffee addiction. It contains hydrocarbons (PAHs), theobromine which increases the stimulating effect of 40 milligrams.
The only means of detoxifying the body from caffeine is to release it through the liver to eliminate the stored blood sugar releasing insulin. For people suffering with epilepsy, it can be even more dangerous, since it drops the blood sugar below normal and can trigger a seizure. It can cause hypoglycemia and increase the appetite not to mention aggravate or further complicate pre-existing conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, acid reflux, Crohn’s, or migraines (just to name a few.)
Coffee also contains tannin which is the same thing used to make leather soft and shiny. Tannin blocks the orifices of tiny cells in the body and aids in indigestion and constipation, adding stress to and diversely affecting the liver. Caffeine teamed with tannin increases the risk of neuro-genetic disorders.
According to www.coffeeresearch.org, there are 21 compounds contained in coffee, including, chlorogenic, caffeic, cytric, malic, and lactic acids which contribute to indigestion and buildup of toxic waste, cardiovascular diseases, auto immune disorders, arthritis, and rheumatism. Additionally, when caffeine is broken down, it produces uric acid which can lead to kidney stones, gout, and other prostate conditions. Drinking coffee and other caffeinated substances can also lead to a loss of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and trace minerals.
Let’s not forget the adverse affect caffeine has with medication.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some medications and herbal supplements(such as Cipro, Noroxin, Theo-24, and Ephedra) can negatively interact with caffeine causing such side effects as nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, and raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, seizure, and even death!
While raw food consumption actually reverses health issues, increases vitality, slowing down or reversing the aging process, and weight loss, drinking coffee long-term can produce the opposite. Plus, for women, long-term coffee use can lead to osteoporosis and anemia.
For the raw foodists who still make coffee a part of their day, they may find themselves experiencing an even greater hypersensitivity to the effects of caffeine.
Healthy Alternatives:
Apart from drinking warm water with lemon, there are many non-caffeinated herbal teas you can drink as well as teecino (order at www.teecino.com) which is made from all natural ingredients, is caffeine free, contains no chemical residue, is high in potassium, is alkaline, and rich in inulin that improves digestion and elimination.
http://www.fredericpatenaude.com/blog/?p=151
One of the things that many people struggle with when transitioning to a raw diet is an addiction to caffeine, more notably, coffee. Heck, I even struggled with it and every once in a while, I’ll be honest, the habit sneaks back into my health routine and I have to cut it out again.
Isn’t it funny that what started out as a European delicacy has turned into one of the most craved substances and addictions in the world.
People drink coffee more than any other beverage including soft drinks or tea. Second only to oil in world trade, annual coffee consumption worldwide was estimated in 2003 to be over 400 billion cups, with Brazil as the largest producer globally. Americans consume more than 400 million cups a day! So you can be sure that I have more than a few readers who drink the stuff.
Whether you drink or don’t drink coffee is a personal choice. But it should be a choice that is made with complete knowledge of the adverse effects rather than just being influenced by commericals and ads that promote it as a pleasurable cup of comfort, relaxation, rejuvenation, and source of health.
The truth is coffee is really a caustic placebo that can lead to major side effects, health complications, and disease but you don’t ever see a commercial about how that morning cup of java actually adds to the rise in health problems, do you?
Here’s an unknown fact:
Reliance on coffee to jump start your day is actually depleting your physical, emotional, and mental state.
According to Gayle Reichler, MS RD CDN, “Within five minutes after you drink your morning coffee, the caffeine begins to stimulate your central nervous system, triggering the release of stress hormones in your body, causing a stress (‘fight or flight’) response. Within the next hour or so, after the stress response dissipates, you will probably feel more tired and hungry.’ So what appears as “quick energy” is in reality a stress response triggered by the adrenal glands!
Dangers that lurk in the cup:
The major ingredient in coffee, caffeine (or otherwise known as 1, 3, 7-trimethylxanthine) is the most widely consumed pharmacologically active substance in the world. Its major action is to stimulate the central nervous system. Excessive amounts in turn, increase the chance for negative side effects such as:
- mood swings
- depression
- chronic fatigue
- irritability
- accelerated heart rate
- panic attacks
- dilated pupils
- and high blood pressure
Caffeine can also have the same mind altering effect that similar psychoactive drugs such as morphine and nicotine have on the body creating pseudo-benefits. That’s why you’ll sometimes see someone smoking a cigarette alongside drinking coffee, because it acts as a double stimulant. That’s why, people who try to quit smoking, often need to give up caffeine and nicotine at the same time – and often fail as a result of the double whammy to their addictions.
Caffeine may also wreak havoc on your blood sugar levels, causing it to dip and rise which can masks true hunger and cause you to overeat (if your blood sugar is low) or undereat (if your blood sugar is high). You’ll find that diet aids such as Hoodia list caffeine as one of the ingredients.
Caffeine also increases respiratory rates, and for people with tight airways, it can open breathing passages. Caffeine is also a diuretic and a mild laxative. Again, two effects that are helpful to people who are trying to lose or control their weight. But it’s not wise to turn to caffeine when trying to make dietary changes in your life.
Caffeine is the biggest culprit behind the coffee addiction. It contains hydrocarbons (PAHs), theobromine which increases the stimulating effect of 40 milligrams.
The only means of detoxifying the body from caffeine is to release it through the liver to eliminate the stored blood sugar releasing insulin. For people suffering with epilepsy, it can be even more dangerous, since it drops the blood sugar below normal and can trigger a seizure. It can cause hypoglycemia and increase the appetite not to mention aggravate or further complicate pre-existing conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome, acid reflux, Crohn’s, or migraines (just to name a few.)
Coffee also contains tannin which is the same thing used to make leather soft and shiny. Tannin blocks the orifices of tiny cells in the body and aids in indigestion and constipation, adding stress to and diversely affecting the liver. Caffeine teamed with tannin increases the risk of neuro-genetic disorders.
According to www.coffeeresearch.org, there are 21 compounds contained in coffee, including, chlorogenic, caffeic, cytric, malic, and lactic acids which contribute to indigestion and buildup of toxic waste, cardiovascular diseases, auto immune disorders, arthritis, and rheumatism. Additionally, when caffeine is broken down, it produces uric acid which can lead to kidney stones, gout, and other prostate conditions. Drinking coffee and other caffeinated substances can also lead to a loss of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, and trace minerals.
Let’s not forget the adverse affect caffeine has with medication.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some medications and herbal supplements(such as Cipro, Noroxin, Theo-24, and Ephedra) can negatively interact with caffeine causing such side effects as nausea, vomiting, heart palpitations, and raise the risk of heart attack, stroke, seizure, and even death!
While raw food consumption actually reverses health issues, increases vitality, slowing down or reversing the aging process, and weight loss, drinking coffee long-term can produce the opposite. Plus, for women, long-term coffee use can lead to osteoporosis and anemia.
For the raw foodists who still make coffee a part of their day, they may find themselves experiencing an even greater hypersensitivity to the effects of caffeine.
Healthy Alternatives:
Apart from drinking warm water with lemon, there are many non-caffeinated herbal teas you can drink as well as teecino (order at www.teecino.com) which is made from all natural ingredients, is caffeine free, contains no chemical residue, is high in potassium, is alkaline, and rich in inulin that improves digestion and elimination.
🌸
🌸
Dr. Jay Milton Hoffman, Ph.D.
“The Missing Link”
Millions of people today are drinking what they think are harmless beverages, but in reality they are shortening their lives by the use of these poisonous drinks.
Caffeine and theobromine are responsible for many degenerative diseases.
Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, colas and many soft drinks.
Theobromine is found in cocoa (raw and processed) and chocolate. One has to really read the label to know whether or not the beverage contains caffeine. Caffeine, theobromine and nicotine are often referred to as being related.
Chemically speaking, notice how closely related they are.
The chemical formula of caffeine is C8H10N402,
theobromine C7H8N402,
and nicotine C10H14N2;
there is very little difference and why they are called relatives.
CAFFEINE FOUND IN THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
Plant Source % Caffeine / Coffee beans .8 – 1.8 / Tea leaves 2.7 – 4.1 / Cocoa beans .07 – 1.70
Kola nuts 1.0 – 2.2
Beverage Caffeine (mg/150ml) / Brewed coffee 85 / Instant coffee 60 / Brewed black tea 50
Brewed green tea 30 / Instant tea 30 / Decaff. coffee 3 / Cocoa 20-142 / Cola drinks 32-65 mg (/12 oz)
Caffeine comes from beverages (coffee, tea, cocoa, colas, mountain dew, energy drinks – red bull etc.) Caffeinated beverages contain many other substances in addition to caffeine.
For instance, coffee also provides non volatile acids, (caffeic, quinic), volatile acids, (acetic, propionic, butyric and valeric), ketones, acetoin and furfural. Trigonelline, chlorogenic.
Decaffeinated coffee is just as bad as regular coffee. The solvent commonly used to extract caffeine from the coffee beans is methylene chloride, a chemical suspected of causing cancer.
Despite its name, decaffeinated coffee does contain caffeine, between 2 and 15 milligrams or more per cup. In the extracting process of removing the caffeine from coffee, the caffeol is made more concentrated. Caffeol is the oil which gives the aroma and flavor to coffee.
Caffeol irritates the mucous membranes of the stomach; it irritates the liver, the kidneys, the bladder; and in some cases, causes cancer of the bladder.
Caffeine and theobromine – consequently, while it stimulates, it leaves the brain more fatigued after its action is over, and – it can do nothing but cause general nerve and brain fatigue, unless adequate sleep is obtained. (3)
The very fact that these beverages are such nervous stimulants should prohibit their use by children. The coffee, tea or other caffeine habits may be acquired by anyone, and may do as much harm in some cases as alcohol or tobacco. (3)
Caffeine and theobromine is an alkaloid, a real vegetable poison, and its action is not less dangerous because it works slowly, and undermines the health unnoticed. (4)
Caffeine and theobromine is like alcohol and nicotine which – frequently undermines the nervous system and predisposes to premature arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and gout.
Caffeine and theobromine beverages gradually impair the energy of body and mind.
They stimulate, excite and quicken the motion of the living machinery, forcing it to unnatural action. These beverages force you to feel strong and active, but these feelings are false and the end result can be disastrous.
“The cup of coffee that gets you started in the morning may be ending your life – and sooner than you realize,” states the American Heart Association. (6) Tea has about as much caffeine as coffee and so has the same stimulating effect on the brain and kidneys.
The chemical purine, which is found in all dead flesh, is almost identical to that of the purine which is found in coffee, tea, chocolate and cocoa.
Here is a chart to show how much purine there is in the items listed below.
PURINE BODIES IN BEVERAGES
Tea 1. 2 grains per pint / Chocolate .7 grains per pint / Coffee 1.7 grains per pint / Cocoa 1. 0 grains per pint
All dead flesh contains uric acid and purine bodies. Now let us notice how closely related this is to caffeine and theobromine.
Uric acid (C3H4N403) and the purine bodies as xanthin and hypoxanthin etc., are very closely related both chemically and physiologically to each other and to the caffeine (C8H10N402) of tea and coffee and the theobromine (C7H8N402) of cocoa.
Anyone wishing to eliminate purine bodies from his diet should eliminate all meats, tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, colas and any soft drinks containing caffeine.
A change in the diet has been shown to help reduce breast lumps, according to Dr. Solomon: That solution is complete abstinence from coffee, tea, cola and chocolate. This new approach was recommended by Dr. John Peter Minton, an Ohio cancer surgeon and professor of surgery at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
He suggested that xanthines, hypoxanthin, and purine chemicals found in these beverages and in chocolate, were responsible for the lumps and the resulting discomfort.
And many women who have followed his advice and eliminated these items from their diets attest to the validity of Dr. Minton’s approach. (7) Caffeine is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant.
Increased alertness, decreased drowsiness and fatigue can result from ingestion of 50-200 mg. caffeine (1/2 to 2 cups of coffee), but 200-500 mg. may lead to headache, tremors, nervousness and irritability. (8)
Cardiac muscle is strongly stimulated by caffeine. Increased force of contraction, heart rate and cardiac output occur. But, caffeine also stimulates the medullary vagal nuclei, so the overall results may be tachycardia and, brachycardia (slow heart action) or no change. (9)
Caffeine relaxes smooth muscle. Thus, caffeine ingestion causes dilation of the coronary, pulmonary and general systemic blood vessels. As with cardiac muscle, the net effect may be no change, since caffeine may at the same time constrict the blood vessels through stimulation of the medullary vasomotor center. (10)
Caffeine effects on the brain include constriction of blood vessels and decreased cerebral flow. Because of caffeine’s apparent effect on gastric acid secretion, it is often contraindicated for peptic ulcer patients. Regular and decaffeinated coffee were show to be equally potent in stimulating secretion of gastric acid.
The volatile oil caffeol, which gives to coffee its characteristic flavor and aroma is a decided irritant to the delicate lining of the stomach and impairs digestion.
The caffeotannic acid of both coffee and tea is the chemical used in tanning leather. It is an irritating astringent to the cells lining the stomach and the intestines. It destroys the pepsin of the gastric (stomach) juice and interferes with both the digestion of food and with the absorption of food from the intestines.
Concerning birth defects, caffeine and theobromine crosses the placental barrier, and the fetus is subjected to the same levels of caffeine present in the body water of other tissues.
So pregnant women or women of child-bearing age would be well advised to avoid caffeine and theobromine. (11)
Medical science has shown that caffeine and theobromine is a central nervous system stimulant which, after the stimulating phase, causes a compensatory depression.
During the excitement phase mental activity may be very rapid, but it is often very inaccurate. The depressed phase results in exhaustion, nervousness, irritability, fatigue and often headache...(12)
Coffee and theobromine can also aggravate the eye disease, glaucoma. When an ophthalmologist wants to test a border line case, he may ask the patient to drink a couple of cups of coffee and return for another eye pressure test shortly thereafter. In glaucoma cases, the pressure will be raised by the coffee.
Coffee, tea, chocolate and alcohol should be forbidden to glaucoma patients and if those beverages are bad for them, we say that they are bad for the well people too. (12)
Many persons take so many cups of coffee in the course of the day that they are continually under its influence. The heart is never free from the exciting influence of caffeine. (13)
The coffee whip is adding annually a host of victims to the mortality list. The official records show that they died of high blood pressure, myocarditis, angina pectoris, heart failure, Bright’s disease and other formidable maladies, but fail to mention the fact that these distressing ailments were brewed in the tea caddy or the coffee pot...(13)
The coffee drinker nerve batteries never get properly charged even when he rests, for the reason that caffeine interferes with the recharging process. The evidence of this is the inability to sleep well after coffee which most people experience.
Sound sleep is necessary for proper recharging of the nerve batteries. The lack of it is shown in the ‘coffee headache’ which confirmed coffee users experience on rising in the morning, whenever the usual cup of coffee is omitted. (13)
The headache is very tangible evidence of the injury which the coffee has done. It is simply an expression of the state of exhaustion of the nerve centers due to long overwork without opportunity for natural rest. (13)
Caffeine and theobromine excites and irritates the entire nervous system, the organic or sympathetic nerves as well as the voluntary nerves. (13)
HOW TO BREAK THE COFFEE HABIT
1st Week...3/4 coffee and 1⁄4 coffee substitute
2nd Week...1/2 coffee and 1⁄2 coffee substitute
3rd Week...1/4 coffee and 3⁄4 coffee substitute
This same program can be used for breaking the chocolate and tea habit.
We should all do well to clear our cupboards of the harmful items and put them in the garbage pail for that is where they belong and not with the food that enters our bodies.
In order to have good health and long life we must eliminate from our foods all things that are harmful to our bodies.
References:
1. A.W. Truman, M.D., “That ‘Coffee Break’ May Break You,”
2. Dr. William T. Salter, Textbook of Pharmacology, p. 879.
3. Dr. O.T. Osborne, quoted by Truman, op. cit.
4. Dr. Fessler, British Journal of Physical Medicine
5. Truman, op. cit.
6. “Listen,” January-February, 1964.
7. Neil Soloman, M.D. “Change in diet helps to reduce breast lumps,” Statesman Journal,
Salem, Ore., Nov. 10, 1979, 11A.
8. Gerald, M.C. Pharmacology An Introduction to Drugs., pp. 277-280.
9. Stephenson, P.E. Physiologic and psychotropic effects of caffeine on man. Journal of
the American Dietetic Association. 71 (3): 240-247. September 1977.
10. Truman, op. cit.
11. Jacobson, M. Letter; More effects of caffeine. Nutrition Reviews. 36(7): 231. July 78.
12. Lloyd Rosenvold, M.D., Nutrition for Life, pp. 107-109.
13. John H. Kellogg, M.D., How to Have Good Health Through Biological Living, p. 446-451.
14. Rosenvold, op. cit., p. 110
15. John H. Kellogg, M.D., Health Question Box, p. 360.
16. Ibid., pp. 456-457. Acid and tannin are also present. (1)
“The Missing Link”
Millions of people today are drinking what they think are harmless beverages, but in reality they are shortening their lives by the use of these poisonous drinks.
Caffeine and theobromine are responsible for many degenerative diseases.
Caffeine is found in coffee, tea, colas and many soft drinks.
Theobromine is found in cocoa (raw and processed) and chocolate. One has to really read the label to know whether or not the beverage contains caffeine. Caffeine, theobromine and nicotine are often referred to as being related.
Chemically speaking, notice how closely related they are.
The chemical formula of caffeine is C8H10N402,
theobromine C7H8N402,
and nicotine C10H14N2;
there is very little difference and why they are called relatives.
CAFFEINE FOUND IN THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
Plant Source % Caffeine / Coffee beans .8 – 1.8 / Tea leaves 2.7 – 4.1 / Cocoa beans .07 – 1.70
Kola nuts 1.0 – 2.2
Beverage Caffeine (mg/150ml) / Brewed coffee 85 / Instant coffee 60 / Brewed black tea 50
Brewed green tea 30 / Instant tea 30 / Decaff. coffee 3 / Cocoa 20-142 / Cola drinks 32-65 mg (/12 oz)
Caffeine comes from beverages (coffee, tea, cocoa, colas, mountain dew, energy drinks – red bull etc.) Caffeinated beverages contain many other substances in addition to caffeine.
For instance, coffee also provides non volatile acids, (caffeic, quinic), volatile acids, (acetic, propionic, butyric and valeric), ketones, acetoin and furfural. Trigonelline, chlorogenic.
Decaffeinated coffee is just as bad as regular coffee. The solvent commonly used to extract caffeine from the coffee beans is methylene chloride, a chemical suspected of causing cancer.
Despite its name, decaffeinated coffee does contain caffeine, between 2 and 15 milligrams or more per cup. In the extracting process of removing the caffeine from coffee, the caffeol is made more concentrated. Caffeol is the oil which gives the aroma and flavor to coffee.
Caffeol irritates the mucous membranes of the stomach; it irritates the liver, the kidneys, the bladder; and in some cases, causes cancer of the bladder.
Caffeine and theobromine – consequently, while it stimulates, it leaves the brain more fatigued after its action is over, and – it can do nothing but cause general nerve and brain fatigue, unless adequate sleep is obtained. (3)
The very fact that these beverages are such nervous stimulants should prohibit their use by children. The coffee, tea or other caffeine habits may be acquired by anyone, and may do as much harm in some cases as alcohol or tobacco. (3)
Caffeine and theobromine is an alkaloid, a real vegetable poison, and its action is not less dangerous because it works slowly, and undermines the health unnoticed. (4)
Caffeine and theobromine is like alcohol and nicotine which – frequently undermines the nervous system and predisposes to premature arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and gout.
Caffeine and theobromine beverages gradually impair the energy of body and mind.
They stimulate, excite and quicken the motion of the living machinery, forcing it to unnatural action. These beverages force you to feel strong and active, but these feelings are false and the end result can be disastrous.
“The cup of coffee that gets you started in the morning may be ending your life – and sooner than you realize,” states the American Heart Association. (6) Tea has about as much caffeine as coffee and so has the same stimulating effect on the brain and kidneys.
The chemical purine, which is found in all dead flesh, is almost identical to that of the purine which is found in coffee, tea, chocolate and cocoa.
Here is a chart to show how much purine there is in the items listed below.
PURINE BODIES IN BEVERAGES
Tea 1. 2 grains per pint / Chocolate .7 grains per pint / Coffee 1.7 grains per pint / Cocoa 1. 0 grains per pint
All dead flesh contains uric acid and purine bodies. Now let us notice how closely related this is to caffeine and theobromine.
Uric acid (C3H4N403) and the purine bodies as xanthin and hypoxanthin etc., are very closely related both chemically and physiologically to each other and to the caffeine (C8H10N402) of tea and coffee and the theobromine (C7H8N402) of cocoa.
Anyone wishing to eliminate purine bodies from his diet should eliminate all meats, tea, coffee, cocoa, chocolate, colas and any soft drinks containing caffeine.
A change in the diet has been shown to help reduce breast lumps, according to Dr. Solomon: That solution is complete abstinence from coffee, tea, cola and chocolate. This new approach was recommended by Dr. John Peter Minton, an Ohio cancer surgeon and professor of surgery at the Ohio State University College of Medicine.
He suggested that xanthines, hypoxanthin, and purine chemicals found in these beverages and in chocolate, were responsible for the lumps and the resulting discomfort.
And many women who have followed his advice and eliminated these items from their diets attest to the validity of Dr. Minton’s approach. (7) Caffeine is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant.
Increased alertness, decreased drowsiness and fatigue can result from ingestion of 50-200 mg. caffeine (1/2 to 2 cups of coffee), but 200-500 mg. may lead to headache, tremors, nervousness and irritability. (8)
Cardiac muscle is strongly stimulated by caffeine. Increased force of contraction, heart rate and cardiac output occur. But, caffeine also stimulates the medullary vagal nuclei, so the overall results may be tachycardia and, brachycardia (slow heart action) or no change. (9)
Caffeine relaxes smooth muscle. Thus, caffeine ingestion causes dilation of the coronary, pulmonary and general systemic blood vessels. As with cardiac muscle, the net effect may be no change, since caffeine may at the same time constrict the blood vessels through stimulation of the medullary vasomotor center. (10)
Caffeine effects on the brain include constriction of blood vessels and decreased cerebral flow. Because of caffeine’s apparent effect on gastric acid secretion, it is often contraindicated for peptic ulcer patients. Regular and decaffeinated coffee were show to be equally potent in stimulating secretion of gastric acid.
The volatile oil caffeol, which gives to coffee its characteristic flavor and aroma is a decided irritant to the delicate lining of the stomach and impairs digestion.
The caffeotannic acid of both coffee and tea is the chemical used in tanning leather. It is an irritating astringent to the cells lining the stomach and the intestines. It destroys the pepsin of the gastric (stomach) juice and interferes with both the digestion of food and with the absorption of food from the intestines.
Concerning birth defects, caffeine and theobromine crosses the placental barrier, and the fetus is subjected to the same levels of caffeine present in the body water of other tissues.
So pregnant women or women of child-bearing age would be well advised to avoid caffeine and theobromine. (11)
Medical science has shown that caffeine and theobromine is a central nervous system stimulant which, after the stimulating phase, causes a compensatory depression.
During the excitement phase mental activity may be very rapid, but it is often very inaccurate. The depressed phase results in exhaustion, nervousness, irritability, fatigue and often headache...(12)
Coffee and theobromine can also aggravate the eye disease, glaucoma. When an ophthalmologist wants to test a border line case, he may ask the patient to drink a couple of cups of coffee and return for another eye pressure test shortly thereafter. In glaucoma cases, the pressure will be raised by the coffee.
Coffee, tea, chocolate and alcohol should be forbidden to glaucoma patients and if those beverages are bad for them, we say that they are bad for the well people too. (12)
Many persons take so many cups of coffee in the course of the day that they are continually under its influence. The heart is never free from the exciting influence of caffeine. (13)
The coffee whip is adding annually a host of victims to the mortality list. The official records show that they died of high blood pressure, myocarditis, angina pectoris, heart failure, Bright’s disease and other formidable maladies, but fail to mention the fact that these distressing ailments were brewed in the tea caddy or the coffee pot...(13)
The coffee drinker nerve batteries never get properly charged even when he rests, for the reason that caffeine interferes with the recharging process. The evidence of this is the inability to sleep well after coffee which most people experience.
Sound sleep is necessary for proper recharging of the nerve batteries. The lack of it is shown in the ‘coffee headache’ which confirmed coffee users experience on rising in the morning, whenever the usual cup of coffee is omitted. (13)
The headache is very tangible evidence of the injury which the coffee has done. It is simply an expression of the state of exhaustion of the nerve centers due to long overwork without opportunity for natural rest. (13)
Caffeine and theobromine excites and irritates the entire nervous system, the organic or sympathetic nerves as well as the voluntary nerves. (13)
HOW TO BREAK THE COFFEE HABIT
1st Week...3/4 coffee and 1⁄4 coffee substitute
2nd Week...1/2 coffee and 1⁄2 coffee substitute
3rd Week...1/4 coffee and 3⁄4 coffee substitute
This same program can be used for breaking the chocolate and tea habit.
We should all do well to clear our cupboards of the harmful items and put them in the garbage pail for that is where they belong and not with the food that enters our bodies.
In order to have good health and long life we must eliminate from our foods all things that are harmful to our bodies.
References:
1. A.W. Truman, M.D., “That ‘Coffee Break’ May Break You,”
2. Dr. William T. Salter, Textbook of Pharmacology, p. 879.
3. Dr. O.T. Osborne, quoted by Truman, op. cit.
4. Dr. Fessler, British Journal of Physical Medicine
5. Truman, op. cit.
6. “Listen,” January-February, 1964.
7. Neil Soloman, M.D. “Change in diet helps to reduce breast lumps,” Statesman Journal,
Salem, Ore., Nov. 10, 1979, 11A.
8. Gerald, M.C. Pharmacology An Introduction to Drugs., pp. 277-280.
9. Stephenson, P.E. Physiologic and psychotropic effects of caffeine on man. Journal of
the American Dietetic Association. 71 (3): 240-247. September 1977.
10. Truman, op. cit.
11. Jacobson, M. Letter; More effects of caffeine. Nutrition Reviews. 36(7): 231. July 78.
12. Lloyd Rosenvold, M.D., Nutrition for Life, pp. 107-109.
13. John H. Kellogg, M.D., How to Have Good Health Through Biological Living, p. 446-451.
14. Rosenvold, op. cit., p. 110
15. John H. Kellogg, M.D., Health Question Box, p. 360.
16. Ibid., pp. 456-457. Acid and tannin are also present. (1)
