The Coffee Controversy: 7 Hints You Might Be At Risk & 9 Tips to Quit For GOOD!

There’s been so much controversy as to whether coffee is considered to be healthy or not. Some research claims it to be the devil incarnate, fraught with all kinds negative health effects, from increasing the risk of cancer, worsening digestive issues, and the potential to develop heart disease. On the flip side, coffee consumption has been shown to improve type 2 diabetes, prevent Parkinson’s disease, and protect against colorectal cancer. 

What is UP with all of the flip flopping? 

Well, according to Dr. Rob van Dam, Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, it’s not that simple.

“Coffee is a very complex beverage with hundreds and hundreds of different compounds in it. Since coffee contains so many different compounds, drinking coffee can lead to very diverse health outcomes. It can be good for some things and bad for some things, and that’s not necessarily flip-flopping or inconsistent. Few foods are good for everything. 

Drinking coffee often goes along together with cigarette smoking, and with a lifestyle that’s not very health conscious. For example, people who drink lots of coffee tend to exercise less. They are less likely to use dietary supplements, and they tend to have a less healthful diet. So in the early studies on coffee and health, it was hard to separate the effects of coffee from the effects of smoking or other lifestyle choices.”

Makes sense, right?

I’m not anti-coffee. Nope, not at all. I opt for organic fair trade Swiss water processed decaf like this one because I kicked my caffeine addition long ago, but really and truly enjoy the taste of a nice piping hot cup of joe now and then. I am human, after all. 

However, there is a dark side to this superfood in question, and more than likely I’ve been the subject of a few voodoo chants during the early phase of my Superwoman Slim Down {Real Food} Detox & Cleanse where we remove trigger foods that make us sick, fat, and exhausted. Coffee is one such food. The good news is I’m able to redeem myself once participants transform their bodies and lives as a result of the program (phew!). 

While some people may tolerate coffee and even enjoy its health benefits (learn how to make a healthy cup of coffee here), it is not for everyone, particularly those who are sick, inflamed, hormonally-imbalanced, nutritionally-compromised, over worked, stressed, exhausted, depressed, and toxic. Coffee is not part of the healing protocol for these ailments. 

Here are 7 hints coffee might not be good for you:

1. Caffeine increases your stress hormones, which increases insulin, leading to inflammation, which leads to the development and progression of all kinds of disease. Read more about inflammation here. 

2. Caffeine addiction decreases insulin sensitivity, which means your cells are unable to appropriately respond to high blood sugar levels in your body, leading to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. 

3. The acidity in coffee is associated with indigestion, heartburn, reflux, and gut flora imbalances. 

4. The addictive nature of coffee makes it nearly impossible for the body to rely on natural sources of energy. 

5. Speaking of addictions, how many people drink their morning joe straight up (black, no suga)? If I may be so bold as to say not many. Coffee has become more like a dessert than a beverage with all of the craziness people are pouring into their cups, which is lacking the nutrients the body needs for sustained energy. In fact, once many of my Superwoman grads kick their coffee habit to the curb, they realize that they don’t like the taste of it anymore. Why? Because for so long they were drowning it in sugar, cream, and questionable flavoring. That’s not coffee. 

6. Coffee drinkers are at risk for lower serotonin synthesis in the brain (a.k.a., the happy hormone). Serotonin regulates normal sleep patterns, bowel function, mood, and energy levels. Ironic? This vicious cycle can disrupt sleep, promote anxiety, and lead to depression. 

7. Some of the compounds in coffee can interfere with normal drug metabolism and the detoxification process in the liver.  What’s worse, certain medications (like some thyroid medications as well as antidepressants) are not well-absorbed, worsening symptoms for those taking them. 

I’m not gonna sugar coat this.

Eliminating coffee from your life might initially cause you some discomfort, in the form of withdrawal symptoms (after all, caffeine is considered a drug), but once you get over the hump, you’re home free.

Here are 9 tips to make kicking your coffee addiction as painless as possible:

1. Don’t go cold turkey

Unless you’re a masochist and like the brain-crushing pain that the coffee withdrawal headache can bring, this is not a good strategy. Slowly and incrementally cut your coffee and caffeine consumption back until it’s completely out of the picture. This can happen over a period of days. It’s not a race. 

2. Hydrate

Drink plenty of filtered water (at least half your body weight in ounces). For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, drink 75 ounces per day. Add a twist of lemon to help facilitate the detox process.

3. Eat clean

Eat a nutrient-dense diet with plenty of fresh, whole, real food, high quality (grass-fed/pasture-raised/wild) meat, dairy, and fish, and good quality fats and oils., like this. 

4. Go green

Drink 1-2 cups of organic green tea. If you “don’t like” green tea, I assure you, this brand might change your mind. It’s my absolute favorite (buy here). The amount of caffeine is negligible and the antioxidant content will help to heal your body. 

5. Try a coffee substitute

If green tea isn’t your thing, no problem! This incredibly healthy (and detoxifying) swap made with dandelion root will do the trick. It has a full, rich-bodied taste that is reminiscent of coffee. It also claims to eliminate withdrawal symptoms, making your transition off of the hard stuff totally seamless. Buy it here. 

6. Get your zzz’s on

This is not the time to be burning the midnight oil. That will only perpetuate the problem, you silly goose. Set a bedtime and stick to it. 

7. Take a detox bath before bed

Add 2 cups of Epsom salt (buy here) and one cup of baking soda in the tub, run the hottest water you can stand, and add 8 drops therapeutic-grade lavender essential oil (buy here). Soak for 20 minutes and allow yourself to sweat. Get out, dry off, and hit the sack. You will have the BEST. SLEEP. EVER. 

Safety note: When it comes to using essential oils on and in your body, quality matter big time. This is the ONLY brand of essential oils that I use for me and my family. In fact, my good friend used a health food store brand of lavender essential oil in her bath a couple of years back (before she discovered this brand) and broke out in hives. She was an itchy, red, blotchy mess. Pure lavender will not do that. Even though the label says “pure” it may not be. Did you know that there is 1,200% MORE lavender essential oil on the market than there is being distilled? That means a LOT of synthetics are being added without consumers knowing it. Know thy farmer and their growing, harvesting, distilling, and sealing process. That is all.

8. Supplement

Try supplementing with an amino acid called D, L-Phenylalanine (DLPA). DLPA is used by the brain to produce norepinephrine {our brains’ version of adrenaline}, a neurotransmitter depleted by stress, caffeine, nicotine, pollution, and some pharmacological and recreational drugs. DPLA works especially well with caffeine.  Caffeine gives us a temporary lift by sending norepinephrine (neurotransmitter associated with mental sharpness, excitability, pain, and depression support) into the blood stream.  Over time, healthy levels of norepinephrine are depleted by caffeine and other factors mentioned above (if not replaced). DLPA does a great job replacing this major neurotransmitter.

Anecdotally, DLPA has been shown to significantly reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with caffeine withdrawal. The recommended dosage for this purpose is 1,000 mg twice a day for a period of 2-4 weeks. Buy it here. 

9. Do a detox

Not a typical detox where you’re starving and drinking nothing but clear liquids (that’s a little cray cray, if you ask me), but a body and soul nourishing real food detox that eliminates refined sugars, flours, caffeine, alcohol, dairy, gluten and other addictive processed foods (or food-like substances).  When you allow certain trigger foods – like caffeine – to remain in the diet, the body continues the vicious cycle of constant cravings and addictive behaviors. You can literally reset your biology by eliminating the dietary triggers that cause inflammation, acidity, and fatigue.

Not sure where to begin?

After studying, researching, testing, and experiencing many detox programs, I’ve whittled down the best of the best and have created a 21-day hunger-free detox & cleanse program that will teach you step-by-step how to feel better than you ever imagined in your own skin and kick cravings and caffeine addiction to the curb. Yes, really. 

But don’t take my word for it. Here’s what Andrea had to say about her experience:

“In three short weeks, my life has changed! I am now at a weight that I haven’t been at for over 15 years, losing 7 pounds that I didn’t think I could shed. Even better, I’ve kicked my $20/week coffee addiction to the curb, am consistently sleeping better, and have eliminated my sugar and salt addictions. Real food now tastes good to me!”

Curious? Check it out here. You’ve got nothing to lose but the jitters, reflux, and energy crashes! 

Have you ever tried to quit coffee? What happened and how did you deal with the withdrawal symptoms? Please leave a comment below with a link to your favorite recipe. I’d love to hear! 

Sources:

• http://lpi.oregonstate.edu/infocenter/foods/coffee/  
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18469247
• http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/31/2/221.extract 
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15010442 
• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16443894