COFFEE

Coffee has become “the best part of waking up” for the majority of American

households. It is best to discuss coffee’s benefit/risks in your life and health with

your doctor, especially if you have underlying health conditions.

One of the primary reasons coffee enthusiasts consume this beverage daily is for the

effects of the caffeine. Caffeine is an alkaloid that occurs naturally in the coffee bean.

It is a stimulant, which means physiologically your heart rate will increase, along

with blood pressure. It is also well known that it affects your mental state, elevates

mood, and reduces fatigue.

Other compounds in coffee include chlorogenic acids, minerals such as magnesium,

potassium, niacin, phytoestrogens, vitamin E, and the phytochemical, trigonelline.

Chlorogenic acid is attributed with the antioxidant properties of coffee. The

phytoestrogens have been shown to alter glucose metabolism and consequently

been shown to decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes in many

epidemiological studies. This anti‐diabetic effect has also been observed with

decaffeinated coffee consumption. In addition, the phytochemical, trigonelline has

been shown to have a hypoglycemic effect in studies with diabetic rats. Coffee has

also been shown to reduce the risk of developing colon cancer, gallstones, and

Parkinson’s disease.

On the negative side, coffee contains diterpenes, which have been shown to increase

LDL (bad cholesterol) and total cholesterol levels. Diterpenes are abundant when

made in a French press, Turkish and Scandinavian varieties. On the other hand, if

you use a filter, it appears that these compounds are removed through the filtering

process.

If you experience withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, fatigue, headache, or

depression you may want to consider an alternative, such as an herbal tea. It is also

necessary to point out that it is very important to make sure you are drinking an

adequate amount of pure water throughout the day, as coffee does not count

towards your water intake. Or if you consume coffee in excess or too late in the day

you may experience insomnia, anxiety, the jitters, and difficulty concentrating.

Whenever you become physically dependent on a substance in order to function on

a day‐to‐day basis, it is unhealthy and your naturopath can help you transition back

into a state of balance.