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There are four main health issues caused by coffee and the over-consumption of caffeine:
1) Exhausted Adrenal Glands: Caffeine is a central nervous
system stimulant. It causes the adrenal glands secrete adrenaline, the
hormone your body depends on in emergencies to elevate your heart rate,
increase your respiration and blood pressure for a rapid
flight-or-fight response. When you overuse stimulants, the adrenals
become exhausted. If your caffeine sensitivity has diminished or you’re
one of those who claims you can drink 3 shots of espresso and go right
to sleep, guess what? Your adrenals have given up responding. This
means you have less resistance to stress, which leaves you vulnerable
to health hazards such as environmental pollutants and disease
pathogens.
As we age, the adrenals become more and more important to us as the
production center of the essential youth and sex hormones including
DHEA, pregnenolone, progesterone, testosterone and estrogen. Many
people in their forties find they can no longer tolerate the same level
of caffeine consumption as they could in their twenties and thirties.
The multiple effects of aging become apparent in the forties and the
body frequently shows an increased variety of reactions to the toxicity
of coffee and caffeine.
The adrenals can be considered the storage center for the vital force,
your inherited reservoir of energy. They need nourishing to keep them
in optimal health. Think of your adrenals as a bank account. If you
continue to make withdrawals without any deposits, you will hit bottom
with a looming overdraft in the form of depleted energy and health.
2) Severe Blood Sugar Swings: Caffeine forces the liver
to release glycogen into the blood stream. The pancreas responds to the
sudden rise in blood sugar by releasing insulin, the hormone which
causes excess carbohydrates to be stored as fat. Within the span of an
hour or two, the result is a sharp blood sugar drop resulting in a
state of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). That’s when you think it’s
time for another cup of coffee and the whole cycle starts up again.
As Barry Sears advises in his book, The Zone, achieving a hormonal
balance and blood sugar stability allows you to maintain your natural
weight and optimal energy level. He counsels that the breakdown of
caffeine causes the pancreas to release too much insulin, thus creating
a climate in which excess carbohydrates are stored as fat and are
unavailable for use as energy by your brain. Although caffeine is a
metabolic stimulant, the ultimate effect is to increase your appetite
and contribute to weight gain and thus caffeine should be avoided by
anyone working to reduce body fat.
3) Acid Imbalance: Over 208 acids in coffee can
contribute to indigestion and a wide variety of health problems
resulting from over-acidity associated with arthritic, rheumatic and
skin irritations. Many people experience a burning sensation in their
stomach after drinking coffee because coffee increases the secretion of
acid in the stomach. Optimal health calls for an alkaline pH balance in
the body.
Caffeine breaks down into uric acid, which the body excretes through
the kidneys. An excess of uric acid taxes the kidneys and can cause
kidney stones and gout. Additionally, men have to be concerned about
prostate conditions that may be aggravated by coffee consumption.
4) Essential Mineral Depletion: Coffee inhibits the
absorption of some nutrients and causes the urinary excretion of
calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and trace minerals, all essential
elements necessary for good health. Women need to be concerned about
osteoporosis as menopause sets in. Studies show that women who drink
coffee have an increased incidence of osteoporosis compared to
non-coffee drinkers. Men are not immune to osteoporosis either.
¬There are a number of health conditions for which doctors advise their
patients to eliminate coffee and all caffeine from their diet.
• Acid indigestion
• Anxiety, irritability and nervousness
• Candida or yeast problems
• Colitis, diverticulitis, diarrhea and other irritable bowel symptoms
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other auto-immune disorders
• Diabetes or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
• Dizziness, Meniere’s syndrome or tinnitus (ringing in the ears)
• Gout (Elevated Uric Acid levels)
• Heart disease or heart palpitations
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Insomnia and interrupted or poor quality sleep
• Liver disease and gallbladder problems such as gallstones
• Kidney or bladder problems including kidney stones
• Migraines or other vascular headaches
• Osteoporosis
• Skin irritations, rashes and dryness
• Ulcers, heartburn, and stomach problems such as hiatal hernias
• Urinary tract irritation
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