Have you had your morning coffee yet?
I have to admit…
For me it’s a “love and hate” relationship with coffee 😅…
I love the taste of it, and the smell of it 😇…. It makes me feel so comforted and happy at the same time…and I enjoy sharing a nice cup of coffee with my friends…
BUT – I don’t like what it does to me and the “after” effect.
The jitters, the anxiousness and sometimes even a headache.
Have you been there too?
As a result, I’ve been trying to limit it. And yet, there are many health benefits to a good cuppa coffee.
🧠 Mental alertness. As you would guess, caffeine is a natural stimulant and can improve alertness, focus and mental concentration – which can be so welcome, especially if you are working on that deadline or a work assignment.
☕ Coffee is packed with polyphenols – powerful anti-oxidants, protecting our body from cell damage, reducing risk of chronic disease, heart disease and even certain types of cancer.
💪 Physical performance. Caffeine stimulates adrenaline, enhancing endurance and physical performance during physical exercise, making it popular among fitness enthusiasts as a pre-workout drink.
So, it all sounds fantastic… but what’s the catch? 🧐
Unfortunately, for some of us, it can cause:
😌 Sleep problems. The half-time of caffeine could be anywhere between 5 and 12 hrs. That means that if you had your cuppa at lunch time, half of that caffeine could be still stimulating your brain at midnight. Not what you need for a good night sleep…
Increased heart rate and blood pressure. While this could be short-lived, excessive coffee consumption can lead to palpitations and an irregular heart rate or even high blood pressure.
😞 Digestive issues. Coffee stimulates the production of acid in your stomach, which can cause acid reflux, heartburn and indigestion.
🤱Breast tenderness. Caffeine may contribute to pre-menstrual breast swelling and tenderness.
So what is the final verdict?
It depends…
If you are going to have it, here are my three tips.
☕️ “Clean coffee”– choose organic if you can. Unfortunately, most high street coffee brands will contain mycotoxins/pesticides.
☕️ Decaf coffee – (will still have 20-30% of caffeine) but choose the Swiss Water® Process – much cleaner than “chemical” decaffeination and will still have the anti-oxidants of regular coffee.
☕️ Have your cuppa 1-2 hrs after your usual wake-up time to avoid it clashing with high cortisol levels as you wake up.
Start your day with a tall glass of water💧instead.