Coffee isn’t just warm and energizing, it may also be extremely good for you.
In recent years and decades, scientists have studied the effects of coffee on various aspects of health and their results have been nothing short of amazing.
Here are 7 reasons why coffee may actually be one of the healthiest beverages on the planet.
1. Coffee Can Make You Smarter
Coffee doesn’t just keep you awake, it may literally make you smarter as well.
The active ingredient in coffee is caffeine, which is a stimulant and the most commonly consumed psychoactive substance in the world.
Caffeine’s primary mechanism in the brain is blocking the effects of an inhibitory neurotransmitter called Adenosine.
By blocking the inhibitory effects of Adenosine, caffeine actually increases neuronal firing in the brain and the release of other neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine (1, 2).
Many controlled trials have examined the effects of caffeine on the brain, demonstrating that caffeine can improve mood, reaction time, memory, vigilance and general cognitive function (3).
Bottom Line: Caffeine potently blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain, leading to a net stimulant effect. Controlled trials show that caffeine improves both mood and brain function.
2. Coffee Can Help You Burn Fat and Improves Physical Performance
There’s a good reason why you will find caffeine in most commercial fat burning supplements.
Caffeine, partly due to its stimulant effect on the central nervous system, both raises metabolism and increases the oxidation of fatty acids (4, 5, 6).
Caffeine can also improve athletic performance by several mechanisms, including by mobilizing fatty acids from the fat tissues (7, 8).
In two separate meta-analyses, caffeine was found to increase exercise performance by 11-12% on average (9, 10).
Bottom Line: Caffeine raises the metabolic rate and helps to mobilize fatty acids from the fat tissues. It can also enhance physical performance.
3. Coffee May Drastically Lower Your Risk of Type II Diabetes
Type II diabetes is a lifestyle-related disease that has reached epidemic proportions, having increased 10-fold in a few decades and now afflicting about 300 million people.
This disease is characterized by high blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance or an inability to produce insulin.
In observational studies, coffee has been repeatedly associated with a lower risk of diabetes. The reduction in risk ranges from 23% all the way up to 67% (11, 12, 13, 14).
A massive review article looked at 18 studies with a total of 457.922 participants. Each additional cup of coffee per day lowered the risk of diabetes by 7%. The more coffee people drank, the lower their risk (15).
Bottom Line: Drinking coffee is associated with a drastically reduced risk of type II diabetes. People who drink several cups per day are the least likely to become diabetic.
4. Coffee May Lower Your Risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
Not only can coffee make you smarter in the short term, it may also protect your brain in old age.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder in the world and a leading cause of dementia.
In prospective studies, coffee drinkers have up to a 60% lower risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia (16, 17, 18).
Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, characterized by death of dopamine-generating neurons in the brain. Coffee may lower the risk of Parkinson’s by 32-60% (19, 20, 21, 22).
Bottom Line: Coffee is associated with a much lower risk of dementia and the neurodegenerative disorders Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
5. Coffee May be Extremely Good For Your Liver
The liver is a remarkable organ that carries out hundreds of vital functions in the body.
It is very vulnerable to modern insults such as excess consumption of alcohol and fructose.
Cirrhosis is the end stage of liver damage caused by diseases like alcoholism and hepatitis, where liver tissue has been largely replaced by scar tissue.
Multiple studies have shown that coffee can lower the risk of cirrhosis by as much as 80%, the strongest effect for those who drank 4 or more cups per day (23, 24, 25).
Coffee may also lower the risk of liver cancer by around 40% (26, 27).
Bottom Line: Coffee appears to be protective against certain liver disorders, lowering the risk of liver cancer by 40% and cirrhosis by as much as 80%.
6. Coffee May Decrease Your Risk of Dying
Many people still seem to think that coffee is unhealthy.
This isn’t surprising though, since it is very common for conventional wisdom to be at exact odds with what the actual studies say.
In two very large prospective epidemiological studies, drinking coffee was associated with a lower risk of death by all causes (28).
This effect is particularly profound in type II diabetics, one study showing that coffee drinkers had a 30% lower risk of death during a 20 year period (29).
Bottom Line: Coffee consumption has been associated with a lower risk of death in prospective epidemiological studies, especially in type II diabetics.
7. Coffee is Loaded With Nutrients and Antioxidants
Coffee isn’t just black water.
Many of the nutrients in the coffee beans do make it into the final drink, which actually contains a decent amount of vitamins and minerals.
A cup of coffee contains (30):
- 6% of the RDA for Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5).
- 11% of the RDA for Riboflavin (Vitamin B2).
- 2% of the RDA for Niacin (B3) and Thiamine (B1).
- 3% of the RDA for Potassium and Manganese.
May not seem like much, but if you drink several cups of coffee per day then this quickly adds up.
But this isn’t all. Coffee also contains a massive amount of antioxidants.
In fact, coffee is the biggest source of antioxidants in the western diet, outranking both fruits and vegetables combined (31, 32, 33).
Bottom Line: Coffee contains a decent amount of several vitamins and minerals. It is also the biggest source of antioxidants in the modern diet.
Take Home Message
Even though coffee in moderate amounts is good for you, drinking way too much of it can still be harmful.
I’d also like to point out that many of the studies above were epidemiological in nature. Such studies can only show association, they can not prove that coffee caused the effects.
To make sure to preserve the health benefits, don’t put sugar or anything nasty in your coffee! If it tends to affect your sleep, then don’t drink it after 2pm.
At the end of the day, it does seem quite clear that coffee is NOT the villain it was made out to be.
If anything, coffee may literally be the healthiest beverage on the planet.
Hi Kris,
I was disappointed to read this article by you as your other articles I have been enjoying and make sense. Here is my take on caffeine…
Caffeine directly attacks the Nervous System and makes the body very racey. I cant see how that is a good thing for the body. The world doesn’t need speeding up…it needs more presence and a slowing down back to our natural rhythms. I stopped consuming all caffeine years ago because I realised it was a false pick me up which I used to get through my day, thus masking my tiredness and exhaustion.
The masking then allowed me to push through more instead of listening to what my body was clearly telling me. Take away caffeine & stimulants like sugar etc and we would be left with the honesty that most of the world is exhausted…and exhaustion, in my opinion, is the most undiagnosed epidemic on the planet underlying many illnesses!
So no matter what any research says, listening to my body comes first as it is the best & most accurate research I have ever found…its the end result of my daily choices that I have to live with every day. But you know this so I am surprised to read this article from you.
Different strokes for different folks. Coffee may not be for everyone. I personally feel much better in every way when I drink coffee.
Caffeine stimulates not attacks the nervous system, and I don’t know about your personal feeling of “racey” but I feel great after a nice dark cup of coffee, and slowing down is the last thing this world needs, more presence of mind doesn’t require slowing down. This lazy, obese, apathetic generation that we are living in needs a kick in the ass! If your body doesn’t like it, then avoid it, done.
To surmise that because your body doesn’t like coffee it must be bad for everyone in the face of so much research seems quite subjective at best…closed minded at worst. This article should only have surprised you if Kris didn’t include any research to back up his statements. “Your take on caffeine” would hold more weight if you cited your sources from which you are pulling your facts.
Man here you go, take my +1 internet life. You won the internet today.
“This lazy, obese, apathetic generation that we are living in needs a kick in the ass!”
I agree, 1 black coffee in the morning makes work more pleasantly tolerable for me. I know my limits. I learned not to go beyond it. Bottom line, the positive outweighs the negative.
Hi Sean… I did cite my research source, the most reliable one I know – my body!
Right, and I think that source is valuable for certain phenomenological claims but when you attempt to make an objective/scientific claim (e.g., “Caffeine directly attacks the Nervous System…”) then you shouldn’t use how you feel as a source. Caffeine “blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain” as opposed to attacking the nervous system like, say, snake venom actually does.
Hey Matthew…I am not making a scientific claim nor am I telling you how to live your life. I am merely giving an opinion which many, many people would agree with. How my body feels is my best marker of what my body likes… it clearly tells me when something does not agree.
I want to wake up each day with vitality and so I choose foods and beverages that allow me to self-care and nourish. I have come to realize that the stimulation of caffeine gives me a false sense of energy which feels awful in the body and so I choose not to ingest it.
And if I am exhausted at least I can then address that more honestly rather than using a stimulant (like caffeine or sugar etc) to get me through the day. I find this a more honest way to live that serves me well. Of course you do what feels right for your body as we all do.
Hi, I agree with Marika to some point.
Indeed people who do not need a high pace in their everyday life to accomplish their job, goals, etc. do not need caffeine or coffee or other stimulants.
It is the factual truth that if you drink coffee every day for some time and then you suddenly stop the intake you will feel very tired, sleepy, because you in fact get addicted to the effect of caffeine and its effect on your body gets lower with the time, so you will need to take in more to have the same effect.
Coffee can give you a kick-in-the-ass, this is right, it might be that this is needed sometimes, to think better, faster, but the question is the long term effect of it.
There are people who do not drink coffee and take serious positions within society. It is just a question of determinism I guess.
Yes that’s my point Istvan… what are the long-term detriments?
Of course it will stimulate you and help you get through the day and get things done in the short-term, but the long-term effects on the body are clearly not great if your aim is to live with a vital body in a sustainable way.
Caffeine gives a false sense of energy which then leads to people ‘pushing through’ which then leads to needing more stimulants like caffeine & sugar just to get through the day…its a vicious cycle that in my opinion then leads to dis-ease in the body.
We get away with it in the short-term, but our choices always catch up with us… every choice has a consequence. I would rather be more honest with myself as I have found that this leads to more caring & nourishing choices for myself.
P.s. I get up quite early in the morning and work long hours in a day… but without stimulants, so there is another way :)
Marika, I like what you said. I was surprised myself when I saw this article, and just recently I’ve been trying to battle my (slight?) addiction to coffee. It really isn’t for everyone.
I was an extremely heavy coffee drinker, then decided to stop for a while (about a month–I did switch to black tea, and I had a lot of it), and now I am drinking at least one cup of coffee everyday, but needed to learn & maintain how much I consume because I can’t handle what I used to very well…
Kris, you did it again: good information on the beverage we both love the most (no not vodka) ;-)
You remember I was recommending decaffeinating like 1-2 days/week if you’re slow to detox the caffeine?
Well, I found that since I detoxed my liver, that’s not even necessary anymore.
So for those who metabolize caffeine slowly: 1-2 days/week to de-caffeinate, eat more cruciferous vegetables (they also help metabolize/detox the caffeine), and make sure your liver is in top shape.
Because then….you can drink MORE COFFEE!!
Mark
Love the article! but I’m going to have to go with water being the healthiest beverage on the planet!
Kris,
I’ve become a huge fan of coffee over the last couple of years. It’s great that it has several health benefits also. I like to take mine with Stevia and cinnamon so I avoid all the sugary and artificial stuff.
Alykhan
What sort of coffee, filtered? Espresso? As long its not instant!
Coffee brewed through a paper filter is best, I think. I would personally avoid instant coffee unless I had no other choice.
Some interesting information here.
I totally agree with the avoiding instant coffee comment. I personally take coffee enjoyment to an even higher level by home-roasting green beans to arrive at a product that meets my personal tastes.
I figure if I’m going to have 2 – 3 cups a day why not enjoy it to the max! Makes a great little sideline hobby in the process!
Dave Asprey the Bulletproof exec seems to like either French Press or the Hario 120
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000IGOXLS/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
You put down a kettle… you’d use that if you’re going to use a Hario V60 or multiple other “Pour Over” ways…
I normally enjoy reading your articles but recently am wondering if your doing a social media experiment trying to kill as many people as possible, I mean recommending 4 cups of coffee a day and one of your recent diet plans eat 3 eggs a day? Behave yourself.
Then I’ll be the the first to die as I drink 6 cups of coffee per day and 5 eggs.
I only drink 2 cups of coffee, but 5-6 eggs each day and have enjoyed feeling stronger and with great and improved blood numbers since not doing so.
Petra, you’ve come this far…..reading Kris’s blog etc., almost everything we’ve been told over the last 25 + years has turned out to be wrong. How can you close your mind now? The health community sure did a number on eggs, modified our grains to be killers, and introduced us all to high fructose corn syrup, the number one cause of our obesity in the USA, and I could go on.
Love your work, Kris.
Thanks, Lia!
I personally love coffee, although the pick-me-up doesn’t work, and I could sleep after consuming a bath full of the stuff. Only when I’m overtired do I get the ‘jitters’ from it, briefly. However, my husband is very sensitive, he has a rather rapid heart rate at best, even when asleep; coffee and green tea make him feel really bad. It does pick him up, and allows him to push his body too far and it exhausts him. It just doesn’t agree with his heart at all and gives him awful headaches (he never gets headaches otherwise).
It does depend on the person. I think the first comment is not to be knocked, that person sounds very much like my husband. I am another story all together. Nobody is wrong. Accusing someone of close-mindedness is the biggest marker of it in itself. We should learn from each other not dismiss.
Thanks for sharing your experiences Sisa…and yes I have not & will not ever tell people what to do, just sharing my own experience and that of many others I know. It’s interesting to read the hostile & defensive comments above. One of the questions I would be asking is…’If someone needs coffee or stimulants to get through the day why would that be?’
Is it not as we have said…to allow us to push through the day? Pushing the body rather than listening and honouring it is what gets us into health troubles down the track. And of course a coffee is going to make you feel better temporarily as a pick up, until your next fix. Bottom line is if you cant get through one day without a caffeine fix, then to me its pretty clear one ‘needs’ caffeine as opposed to just simply enjoying it.
Now this comment may ruffle some feathers of those that want to defend their coffee drinking, but please understand I am not interested in online arguments, just simple speaking up and sharing my experiences. I have really enjoyed and agree with many things that Kris has written in other articles. It’s morning here in Australia so off to boil the kettle to prepare a cup of herbal tea :)
I agree that coffee has health benefits, but they are mainly when consumed organically and via a coffee enema. In this way it cleanses the blood and liver… really.
Have you read the work of Jack E. James, PhD, Reykjavik University, Iceland, and National University of Ireland ?? I advise you to do so. He has a very different take on caffeine and has the research to back it up.
Journal of Caffeine Research, http://www.liebertpub.com/JCR , has an article that contradict what you state about caffeine and diabetes ( http://www.liebertpub.com/global/pressrelease/caffeine-and-diabetes-helpful-or-harmful-latest-findings-presented-in-the-premier-issue-of-journal-of-caffeine-research/886/ ).
Also, what do you base your assumption that filters coffee is “best” ??
The article you linked to contradicts the findings of the studies I linked to above.
The prospective studies on coffee and disease show fairly consistent results. You would need randomized controlled trials in order to refute them.
Running coffee through a paper filter removes substances called diterpenes, which may raise cholesterol in the blood.
A lot of studies of caffeine are faulty because participants are still in state of withdrawal when testing is done and therefore increased cognitive function has a lot to do with that, not the caffeine itself. I looked up one of your reference (3) and the first study on the list, Haskell (2005), has participants only go without caffeine 24 hours before testing, they are not caffeine free.
Well, studies where they don’t go without caffeine before testing show the same results if you look at the other studies on that list.
Any research about becoming dependent on coffee?
When I used to drink coffee, I was really wretched when I didn’t drank my morning coffee. When I finally got my cup the, I felt much happier, sharper, just like you described in the article.
I haven’t drank coffee regularly for years now and I still feel that an occasional cup of coffee makes me a bit sharper, but I don’t feel bad without coffee anymore.
Yes, you can definitely become addicted to coffee. Many people who drink coffee every day will go into withdrawal if they stop.
I am not a coffee drinker… I think it tastes awful but just wanted to tell you Kris that I thoroughly enjoy all your articles, whether I agree or disagree with them. Thanks and keep up the good work! :0)
Thanks, Missey!
If one takes caffeine pills does this in your opinion have the same overall positive effects as drinking hot cups of Joe?
I doubt it. There are many biologically active compounds in coffee, caffeine is just one of them.
Caffeine on its own will give you the stimulant effect, but personally I find the effect more pronounced if I get it from coffee compared to a pill.
Hi, Kris,
As always, I enjoyed reading your article on coffee. I just want to know if the same benefits can be had in drinking coffee with full fat milk.
Yes, absolutely.
You lost me right there. First of all, green coffee beans are full of antioxidants and essential fats, but by the time we get it highly processed, pretty much all that’s left is caffeine – which outbalance your blood sugar levels by releasing adrenaline and can over-excite the nervous system leading to headaches and addiction/withdrawal. Studies are not always proofs, don’t believe everything you read – use common sense. It’s also well known fact that milk cancels out the antioxidant benefits of both tea and coffee.
Would it be good to drink coffee before or after a workout?
I’ve read it can help with exercise. Drinking Bulletproof coffee before a workout might be a good idea for energy as well as the other beneficial effects related to it.
http://forum.bulletproofexec.com/index.php?/topic/1569-bulletproof-coffee-after-workout/
Someone in this thread says they read that coffee inhibits HGH release….may not want it for workouts if thats the case.
More to research…trying to find the answer to a question and get more questions…thats how it is I guess lol.
http://crossfitthames.com/bulletproof-coffee/
http://www.bulletproofexec.com/how-to-make-your-coffee-bulletproof-and-your-morning-too/
Some pages on BPC that might be of use.
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/16/ori-hofmekler-on-coffee.aspx
Found some interesting stuff on coffee…but haven’t yet found anything on HGH. If anyone finds some good information on that would love to read it.
Thanks
Before. It’s the best post-workout “supplement” I know of, really helps me get a better workout.
What!?! You just contradicted yourself. You said before workout and then said it is the best post-workout supplement. Please clarify.
Whoops. I meant “pre-workout” supplement. My bad.
Couple of things to keep in mind. Coffee crops are heavily sprayed with pesticides, so make sure you buy organic.
Use coffee maker to minimize the contact time during brewing.
Use non-bleached filters as chlorine is bad for you.
When you finally have good coffee don’t screw it by adding anything to it (like sugar).
I don’t think theres anything wrong with adding a good sweetener like honey/maple syrup as long as they are good quality. Grade B Maple syrup or raw unfiltered honey. Keep the amount low and drink it with a meal with fat and protein.
Make it a Bulletproof coffee that has butter and coconut oil. The combination is great.
A touch of Irish whiskey is good too.
Wise advice, Jonathan.
Jurciu and Kris,
I like what you said, JURCIU, that organic is best with non-bleached filters. If you’re going to have a cup NOW AND THEN, it should be organic and not use those silly little styrofoam to-go cups. Of course, if you’re out and about, it’s best to stick to bringing your own beverage whether it be your own brew or water. Let’s not forget other healthful drinks like organic green tea, Tulsi tea, Ojibwa tea, etc… ~ let’s broaden our tastes and experiment a little – herbs are healthful as well as we consider being “open-minded”.
KRIS, I’ve always heard that there are three things that deplete a body’s minerals – caffeine, sugar, and chlorine. Any thoughts? I also feel after a night of not having any water that it’s best not to consume coffee first – you’re already depleted of water to begin with. Our bodies are made of a high percentage of water. We would do well to start the day with lots of water with a splash of lemon juice, don’t you think? Coffee can come a little later, in my opinion. I love the “smell” of coffee, and, as for taste, organic is best. (I hope I spelled your name correctly – J) Loved the article, Kris, and your research. Let’s take control of our own health and do our research!
Coffee is impossible to heal
What does that mean…?
Interesting thread. My understanding is the darker the coffee is roasted the less caffeine there is. I also think a french press is good for making coffee as the coffee grounds get totally submerged in the water, so you get more flavor and can use a little less coffee. Next would be the old fashion way with a cone filter holder and pouring the boiling water in by hand. A drip maker is OK too and a coffee maker that uses a cone shape filter is better than a coffee maker that uses flat bottom or basket filters. The grounds get soaked more in filter. Cone shaped. That’s my two cents. Enjoyed the article as I import Swedish coffee.
What people consume is their business. I’ve been drinking coffee since I was 3 years old. Caffeine has a calming effect on children before they reach reach puberty and my grandmother used give me a small amount of coffee in my milk, I guess, for that reason at the end of the day. That’s because the peasant folks knew what was what. That was around 65 years ago and the worst days of my life were when I decided to give up caffeine for 7 months about thirty years ago on the advice of that nut job Gary Null. Never again. I drink 2 1/2 cups of the strongest coffee with a dash of skim milk when I get up and a cup of black tea in the afternoon. I’ll do that till I die.
I really love your site Kris.
Any chance you can talk about yogurt or probiotics in a future post? There’s so much hype about this. I believe raw milk yogurt is a miraculous food, but it would be cool if you looked at both pasturized and raw dairy since one is a dead food and the other is living.
Thanks
Thanks Des. I plan on covering dairy some time in the near future, but don’t know the exact date yet.
Hey Kris,
Great write up on coffee. I personally love coffee. I drink it everyday second to water. I noticed in the end of your write up. You made a statement of “Even though coffee in moderate amounts is good for you, drinking way too much of it can still be harmful.” What really constitutes as too much? I personally have 4 to 6 (8oz.) cups daily accompanied with 2 tbsp. of cream. I have been told that this was considered too much by a few doctors. however I have very low BP and heart rate even when consuming this amount of coffee daily. I’m very active with walking and working out.
May I ask you of your thoughts?
Thanks,
Randall
Is jaggery a good substitute over sugar in coffee?
I don’t know what jaggery is.
I too have enjoyed your other articles; however, this one falls short of the quality that your other articles exhibit. What I appreciated in your other articles is how factual they appear. That sense of an article based on tried and true facts seems to be lacking here. An illustrative example of this can be achieved by simply counting the number of times the word “may” was used–even in titles. As a reader, I’m less interested in what “may” be true. I need to read something with substance. I “may” live longer if I jaywalk (from the added exercise of running across the street), but then again maybe not.
Compared to your other articles, this article takes on more of a “hearsay” tone. As an example, I would just like to cite the last portion of your text:
“At the end of the day, it does seem quite clear that coffee is NOT the villain it was made out to be. If anything, coffee may literally be the healthiest beverage on the planet.”
Something cannot both “seem” to be something AND be “quite clear” simultaneously. Furthermore, we see another “may” crop up here. Finally, we have the dreaded “literally” word, so often overused because what it actually means and how it’s interpreted by the average reader are so different. It’s highly dubious that coffee is the healthiest beverage on the planet. If anything, that prize would go to water.
About the author of this post: I drink waaay too much coffee in a day, but I love it.
In reference to a comment earlier about caffeine being bad. This is true in higher quantities however the same could be said about anything. Coffee is essentially a form of tea made from a bean instead of a leaf. Also a body is not a reference source otherwise nobody would exercise.
Professor Walter Veith is a nutritional physiologist. He explains clearly why coffee is NOT scientifically healthy.
If you want, watch it for your self @ 15:47 minutes
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ca3h7RUDKCk
Walter Veith is a Zoologist trained in animal nutrition. He is also a Seventh Day Adventist so his teaching will always be tainted with their distorted thinking.
Wow great article; it “can” and “may” cure cancer too right; I mean it does everything else.
Realize the words “can” and “may”, and “loaded”, which was really the funny one… 2%! Really loaded!
The truth is coffee plays with your hormones and Psyche.
Stay away from it people, drink herbal teas instead and you’ll see the difference. It will take some time to adjust but it’ll be worth it.
Marika, Marika, Marika.
You don’t have to perceive coffee as an addictive risky supplemental energy boost. You know how there are some people who have strong discipline and don’t let quick fixes take over. I know coffee can be addictive. I also know it can be bad for you. this article just proves if you take out over consumption, coffee can be good; This article also misleads people to the theory that you should drink a lot of coffee.
I drink only one cup a day when I wake up, and I drink a mixture of non-caffeine and caffeinated teas through the day. I eat mostly vegetables with some meat for strength occasionally throughout the day. I drink a lot of tea! I don’t drink soda and hardly ever juice (I just eat fruit). I like a healthy diet, coffee is part of that, it keeps me focused. I think one cup is enough, don’t go crazy, don’t get comfortable with the buzz. If I miss coffee in the morning, I still have 100% of my energy, just takes about a half hour longer to fully wake up and be focused.
Hi Luis,
You do what feels right for you…but for me and many others any doses of caffeine (tea included) are false stimulants (of which I could write a very long list of these) and harming the vitality & harmony of the body. You have agreed it is a stimulant…and what I am offering for pondering is that it may be harming you even in small doses when you consider the whole body in harmony and long-term sustainability. I remember clearly when I used to drink caffeine tea (only 1-2/day) and how I found many good reasons to justify why it was ok, rather than looking at why I ‘needed’ the pep up or the comfort that it brought. I loved the buzz…but could also feel how depleting it was to my body a couple of hours later. It was a viscious merry-go-round that was capping my vitality.
Take a good look at the world and the increasing statistics of illness & disease and you will see that people are medicating themselves with all sorts of substances (coffee included) to get through the day and cover up the fact of how exhausted they are…
When I see clients we look at and discuss lifestyle choices that then lead them to need the stimulant. How we live can be the best medicine available…food being one part of a much bigger picture of how we can self-care. If you need scientific proof (& I don’t), Epigenetics is now starting to confirm how our lifestyle choices affect our health & well-being.
More honesty and less coffee I say!
Have a beautiful day Luis…and enjoy being you in all of your loveliness :)
I was laughing as I read this because what Marika is saying is so obvious. I love coffee too! I could write a hundred things on the positive effects of coffee, but uh, I’m an addict, so I don’t have credibility. (I drink one a day by the way). Marika has a different standard of health.
Some people think they are getting vegetables because there’s a quarter of a carrot in their frozen dinner. You cannot talk to them about the benefits of eating raw… it is too far away (I’m eeking my way there). But Marika I just wanted to say how much I loved the slow/sane broader perspective which frankly I cannot hear enough of. What our culture considers “standard” breaks my heart constantly – whether that is how we treat our habitat or our bodies or… one another!