Coffee is many different things to many different people. It is a pick-me-up to some, a diuretic for others. a delicacy to some and medicinal in the alternative health world. Let’ start with a pick-me-up.
Pick-Me-Up: This is probably the most negative reason that you should accept for drinking coffee. If you need an artificial stimulant to give you energy, you might start looking at your lifestyle with regards to eating, drinking and exercise. If you think about it, when you are tired, you are supposed to rest and not exert as much energy. If you stimulate this physiological function, you are sucking the energy from your body to bring it up to the level you like. Eventually, your organs, especially the adrenals, are drained of energy and you are “running on empty”. You won’t have the reserves you need to get you through a rough day or stressful situation. It drains you.
On a positive note, if you need just a little increase in energy during your work out or you notice that you think more efficiently with a little caffeine, by all means, enjoy.
Diuretic: When ingested in small quantities, caffeine can cause a reduction of fluids in the body. If this is excess fluid, it can be a positive response. If it takes required electrolytes with it, this can result in a negative response. The symptoms of a negative response are being light-headed, dizzy, dry-mouth, muscle cramping and weakness. This is because of the dehydration that occurs when a diuretic is over-used. The reaction is caused by a dilation of blood vessels, therefore increasing the amount of fluid that is sent through the body. In migraine therapy, prescription medication may include caffeine or vessel dilators. This will result in a lower pressure being used by the blood vessels, therefore reducing the pounding effect associated with constricted blood vessels.
Delicacy: The coffee bean is complicated and depending on the climate and soil in which it grows, will provide varying levels of strength, taste and effect. The strength (or dilution with water) in which coffee is made also affects it’s physiological response. The cost of a pound of coffee will be calculated by the location, soil, outer shell, oils and processing requirements of the coffee bean. The most expensive coffee comes from Indonesia, at a price of $600 per pound. Everyone has their own taste and caffeine level which is enjoyable to the taste buds. Drinking, or sipping coffee as a delicacy is usually associated with social gatherings or coffee clubs. Yes, there are coffee clubs, just like there are wine clubs. They study the bean, the taste and effect of the coffee. This can be a very specialized hobby.
Medicinal: The medicinal effects of coffee can be correlated with the diuretic effects of caffeine. They are two of the same. When used at the right time and in small amounts, coffee is used as an alternative health therapy. It can increase the efficiency of a work-out program, reduce or eliminate the occurance of a migraine, eliminate constipation, reduce excess fluids, stimulate focus and increase the function of the immune system. The amounts are small and the timing is important. What is also important is that the bean is clean and pure.
As you educate yourself into the world of coffee, it becomes clear that not all cups of coffee are alike. If you have any comments or questions about this subject, please contact me at kim@kromasnutriton.com
Thank you,
Kim Kromas, DC, PhD