How Awesome is Coffee for You and Does It Have a Dark Side?
Is Coffee Good for Us, or Bad
Many people are wondering whether coffee is bad for us. While coffee has long been criticized for its high caffeine content, very little evidence suggests that coffee itself is harmful to our health. In fact, coffee has been shown to have many positive effects, including providing energy and boosting cognitive function. Additionally, coffee contains a wide variety of vitamins and minerals such as magnesium, potassium, and B vitamins. Therefore, coffee is likely not as bad for us as many believe.
Coffee has been shown to have numerous health benefits, including a reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer, including liver and colon cancer. Coffee is also associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline and Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, and other forms of dementia. Drinking coffee can also improve cognitive function and help protect the brain from damage caused by free radicals. It also has been linked with a reduced risk of stroke. The health benefits of coffee are due to the presence of coffee compounds, which include caffeine, diterpenes, chlorogenic acids, and antioxidants. Coffee consumption has also been linked with a lower risk of depression and anxiety. The coffee compounds work together to provide these health benefits by reducing inflammation, protecting against cellular damage, and improving brain function.
What are Diterpenes
Diterpenes are a class of chemical compounds found in coffee beans and many other plants. They are naturally produced by plants as part of their defense mechanisms, helping to protect them against pathogenic infections and herb-eating predators. Diterpenes can have a wide range of effects on the human body, including boosting energy levels, promoting fat loss, and improving cognitive function. Additionally, many diterpenes have potent antioxidant properties that can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Thanks to their many beneficial effects, diterpenes are a fabulous component of coffee and other plant-based foods. If you are looking for a natural way to stay healthy and energized, consider adding more coffee or other plant-based foods high in diterpenes to your diet!
What is Chlorogenic Acids
Chlorogenic acids are a group of antioxidant compounds commonly found in coffee. These beneficial molecules have been extensively studied for their ability to reduce inflammation, improve blood sugar regulation, and boost overall health. Research has shown that chlorogenic acids have protective effects against certain chronic diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. These powerful antioxidants also help neutralize harmful free radicals in the body and prevent oxidative damage to cells and tissues. Coffee is a rich source of chlorogenic acids, making it a great part of a healthy diet.
Coffee and Cortisol
Your body produces cortisol when under stress or needs an energy boost. During stress, cortisol helps mobilize glucose from your liver to give your body more energy. Cortisol also helps to regulate blood sugar levels and aids in metabolism. Studies have found that drinking coffee can help increase cortisol production, benefiting those seeking an energy boost or improving their metabolism.
Caffeine and Adrenal Fatigue
Did you know that coffee can benefit your adrenal system too? Let's examine the science behind why coffee is so good for your adrenals.
Adrenal fatigue is when the adrenal glands become overworked due to chronic stress or other factors. Symptoms of adrenal fatigue include lack of energy, difficulty concentrating, irritability, difficulty sleeping, and weight gain. Caffeine has been studied as a potential remedy for adrenal fatigue because it can help boost energy levels while also helping to reduce stress levels by increasing dopamine production in the brain. Studies have found that caffeinated beverages like coffee can help reduce symptoms of adrenal fatigue without causing any adverse side effects.
Coffee and Stress Relief
Stress is one of the primary causes of adrenal fatigue, but luckily there are ways to reduce stress levels naturally without resorting to medication or other forms of treatment. Studies have found that consuming caffeinated beverages like coffee can help reduce stress levels by increasing dopamine production in the brain. This means that drinking coffee can give you an energy boost and help relieve feelings of anxiety or depression due to its ability to raise dopamine levels in the brain.
All of this evidence shows that drinking coffee has several benefits in supporting healthy adrenals and overall well-being! Caffeine provides an energy boost and can help reduce stress levels while promoting cortisol production, which helps regulate blood sugar levels and aid metabolism function.
The Dark Side
With all of the benefits of coffee that I have mentioned, there actually is a dark side to coffee. Most coffees sold out there are very acidic. They aren't tested for mold, mycotoxins, heavy metals, pesticides, aflatoxin, or other toxins.
Decaf coffee beans are soaked in Methylene Chloride. And from the CDC website, "Methylene chloride (CH2Cl2) is a colorless liquid that can harm the eyes, skin, liver, and heart. Exposure can cause drowsiness, dizziness, numbness and tingling limbs, and nausea. It may cause cancer." 1
A lot of coffees cause jitters, digestive upset, toxicity, and poor sleep.
This certainly doesn’t sound like anything I would want to use on a health and healing journey.
So what can we do?
How to Ensure that You Get the Very Best Coffee
Make sure it is organic
Make sure it is 3rd party tested
Make sure all of your coffee is grown at a high elevation
Know where the origin of your coffee is, from planting to packaging to landing at your doorstep
Make sure your coffee producers test for 400+ toxins
Switch to low acidic coffee
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My #1 Coffee Recommendation is LifeBoost!
I drink their coffee every single day. It is the only coffee I will ever drink now! I don’t lightly recommend products. Each product I recommend I have to have used and loved.
I drink my first cup of coffee black because, basically, I love black coffee, and it is a great way to kickstart my workday. I will add mushroom powder to my black coffee, as it doesn't change the taste too much. My preference is Lion's Mane powder from Real Mushrooms. This Lion's Mane is 100% mushroom containing no grains, mycelium, or fillers. And Lion's Mane is great for brain cognition and focus. A perfect beginning to a busy day.
More on the out-of-this-world health benefits of different mushrooms here.
My All Time Favorite Flavor of Coffee
I absolutely love their Chocolate Coconut Truffle Coffee. It tastes so decadent. It never fails, every time I pour a cup of this coffee, I bring it to everyone in my household to smell. It is heavenly. I never want to tire of it, so I space it out and only drink this on special occasions...or when I can’t resist the temptation!
Mostly I drink a medium roast, but LifeBoost has such a big variety, that you can even choose decaf or also pods if you have a Keurig or Keurig 2.
LifeBoost has taken coffee to the next level with this blend! The Biotics Cold Brew probiotics scavenge mycotoxins, support digestive health, boost the immune system, and address inflammation.
Their exclusive probiotic has 15 different strains and is a proprietary blend that is very bioavailable.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know all of the health benefits of coffee, you don’t need to quit drinking it. Just make sure your coffee producers set high standards and tests for the over 400 toxins that are often in the beans. If you follow my recommendations above, I guarantee you will be enjoying your cup of coffee a whole lot more!
If you click here you will find all kinds of great coffee, from decaf, to pods, to flavored, to non-flavored coffee. Cheers, and may the coffee force be with you!!
Disclaimer: The contents of this website are based on personal experiences, opinions, and my own research. Information on this website is for educational purposes and is not meant to diagnose, replace, treat, or cure any medical or mental health condition. Please see your doctor with any health-related questions. Statements on this website have not been approved or evaluated by the FDA. While perusing this site, please use your best judgment in conjunction with your Naturopath or other health care provider.
