In this hectic world, many are surviving on coffee, depending on it to wake up in the morning or to overcome the dreaded afternoon slump. But should you consider quitting it for good?
What are the dangers?
While acknowledging the controversies surrounding “coffee’s role in the prevention of Parkinson’s disease to breast cancer”, a Huffington Post article written by a practicing physician outlined the detriments of coffee.
While unfiltered coffee provides a significant amount of antioxidants, it also “leaks the most diterpenes into your system”. These are chemical compounds that have been associated with higher triglycerides and cholesterol levels.
Long term effects on habitual coffee drinkers include decreased insulin sensitivity, making it difficult for the body to control blood sugar levels. This could “lead to arterial deterioration and increased risk of mortality related to cardiovascular disease”.
On a more practical note, perhaps the most widely known downside of relying on a daily cup of joe is that the caffeine in it increases stress hormones. This could result in anxiety and feelings of irritability. In line with increased stress levels, caffeine is also known as a trigger for headaches and painful migraines.
In addition, drinking coffee can result in more frequent urination, which may cause inconvenience in daily life as you may find yourself running to the bathroom more often. Frequent urination also means you might end up losing important minerals such as calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
Do you need to quit?
For a healthy individual, there should be no harm in indulging in a cup once in awhile. But for those who are depending on coffee on a daily basis, or have underlying health issues, quitting coffee would be a wise move.
As the aforementioned Huffington Post article sums up, “Chances are if you are reading this either you or someone you care about is sick, inflamed, hormonally imbalanced, nutritionally-compromised, overworked, stressed out, fatigued, depressed, and toxic. Coffee is not part of the medicine required for your healing.”
