Give Up Coffee

So have you noticed that there is a Starbuck’s on every corner these days? People are willing to pay $3 or so for a cup of coffee everyday. This yields over a thousand dollars a year. I think you can guess what my opinion is on this one – WHAT A WASTE OF MONEY. Most of America is addicted to caffeine and is willing to pay top dollar to harm their body on a daily basis. I am going to review four major health motivators to quit coffee and caffeine.

1. Coffee and caffeine create extra stress for your body and accelerated aging. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. This means that your adrenal glands secrete stress hormones. These hormones should be saved for emergencies or high stress situations (like giving a speech or running a marathon or being a victim of a crime). When you overuse stimulants, your stress hormones remain elevated and after a period of time, you can diminish your stores. This is when you may become addicted – you need more caffeine or coffee to maintain a certain level of energy. Chronic high stress hormones cause accelerated aging, a compromised immune system, impaired digestions, and weight gain.
2. Coffee and Caffeine cause severe blood sugar swings contributing to weight gain and mood disorders. When you consume caffeine, your liver releases glycogen. Your pancreas responds to the spike of blood sugar with the release of insulin. In case you are not aware, insulin is the hormone which causes excess carbohydrates to be stored as fat. Also, within an hour or two, your blood sugar will start to bottom out. This is when you may become irritable or tired and therefore need another cup of joe.
3. Coffee and Caffeine impair digestion and acid imbalance. Coffee contains over 208 acids, which contribute to indigestion. Many people experience a burning sensation in their stomach because coffee increases the secretion of HCL acid into the stomach. Due to the high acid levels, coffee contributes to an imbalance of body pH, which can lead to the buildup of toxic wastes in the connective tissues, resulting in many degenerative diseases. Caffeine breaks down into uric acid. Too much uric acid taxes the kidneys , therefore excessive caffeine is a cause for kidney stones and gout.
4. Coffee causes essential mineral depletion. Coffee causes the urinary excretion of many nutrients, such as B vitamins, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron. Studies show that women who drink coffee have an increased incidence of osteoporosis and anemia.

Well, I hope that I helped shed some light on the dangers of caffeine. If you are truly addicted to caffeine, it may be best to wean yourself off slowly. Some options: switch to 1/2 regular, 1/2 decaf, switch to black or green tea (green tea has the least amount of caffeine), or try a coffee alternative. Remember to be kind to your body while weaning yourself so you can minimize symptoms.

Wellness basics while weaning yourself off caffeine: eat a well balanced diet, control stress in your life, get plenty of sleep, drink lots of water, exercise regularly.

Here are some suitable coffee alternatives:

• Teeccino is a caffeine-free herbal coffee. To be honest, I’ve had mixed reviews from true coffee drinkers. However, I like Teeccino’s yummy flavors (amaretto, hazelnut, and chocolate mint) and I prefer to drink it with coconut milk as an iced drink.
• My other favorite coffee alternative is chai green tea, made by Stash Premium Teas. It has just a tinge of caffeine, so I enjoy it as my warm morning drink.

What you should do next …

✅ Register for my Nutrition Class: 3 Realistic Solutions to Rev Your Metabolism so you can Drop Weight Naturally Without Deprivation. And after class, you will receive a gift (My Favorite Balanced Breakfast Recipe Book). I recommend you register early; spaces are limited!

✅ Sign-up for my 3-Day Eating Reset: Tame your sugar cravings without feeling deprived. You will receive my step-by-step guide to stabilize your blood sugar with a done-for-you menu plan, simple recipes, and shopping list.

✅ Schedule a FREE Metabolism Mastery Call: This is a no pressure phone conversation with our health coaches.  Let’s dive into your specific challenges and goals to figure out what next steps are best for you.

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About the Author

Hello, I’m Betsy Markle.  I’m a Registered Dietitian and Holistic Nutritionist with over 20 years of experience. Living a busy life with 3 kids and a passionate career, I understand the importance of realistic nutrition, exercise, and balanced living.

Women tend to put the needs of everyone else before their own. My passion is to empower women to create a healthy lifestyle that they love and can stick with forever.

Here at Sunshine Wellness, we are proud to help women lose weight effortlessly, overcome cravings, and revive energy so they can heal their metabolism, ditch the diet mentality, and love their bodies.

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