"Coffee" - good or bad?
So today let's talk about "Coffee". Almost everyone drinks it and there are reviews that say . . . not only does it taste good . . . it's also good for us!
Okay . . . so what are the benefits of drinking coffee? Well . . . it's reported . . . that the caffeine can improve energy levels, help burn body fat, improve physical endurance and the bean is high in antioxidants.
Well, that sounds like a winner!
But . . . let's dig a little deeper.
Did you know . . . that drinking coffee in large quantities (3 cups or more per day), can damage the central nervous system, hormonal system and the immune system? Or any amount can inhibits the absorption of "iron" and decreases B-vitamins? How about that coffee recreates "stress" conditions for the body which increases the "Cortisol" hormone and that's the "BELLY FAT PRODUCER". Yes, that caffeine that we love so much and can't seem to live without causes a "big" boost of "Cortisol" and affects us negatively on many level!
Remember in a previous Health Tip we spoke about how the hormone "Cortisol" and stress affect this VIRUS?
Well . . . if that wasn't bad enough . . . drinking coffee with a "meal" can trigger "Cortisol" "surges" that can also cause "Overeating".
Okay . . . so now that you all hate me for ruining your day . . . let's dig even deeper. This is our health we're talking about people! Sometimes in life we need to make sacrifices. And this pandemic "should" be our wake up call to "rebuild" our immune system so the next crisis in life won't take us down.
Chronic long-term exposure to stress hormones, can disrupt the body's metabolism causing elevated blood sugar, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and increase the body's fat level due to the increase in appetite. You see, when drinking coffee and activating the hormone "Cortisol", this stress stimulates cravings for sweet, calorie dense foods and salty, high carbohydrate snacks.
We also spoke in a previous Health Tip, that "Cortisol" is a potent anti-inflammatory hormone (if working correctly). In short spurts, Cortisol can boost your immunity by limiting inflammation. But if this hormone is "not" working correctly (too much coffee and stress in our life's), long-term, sustained, high levels of inflammation point to an overworked, over-tired immune system . . which causes the body to produce greater levels of the stress hormone. It's a viscous cycle! All leaving us with a "compromised" immune system.
In chronic stress, the adaptive immune system is "suppressed" due to continued high levels of Cortisol and as a result the body is slower to heal, less able to produce "Antibodies" and more susceptible to Viral infections.
So maybe in this time of building awareness, we need to think about slowing down or even to stop drinking coffee. At least think about it for me, Please!
As always, if you'd like form information, feel free to contact me