A Cup of Joe

Recently, I was talking with a family member who gave up coffee. She explained how she noticed that it made her very talkative and almost jittery. Now that she has been off of it for several weeks, she feels much better and thinks she is in a happier more natural place in her life. My mother had wanted me to write about caffeine for some time, but this was one vice I still held on to. Maybe I didn't want to learn the negative side effects because I didn't want to make any changes in this area yet. But, alas, here I go....

Many of us begin our morning with coffee. For some, it's a cup, for others it's a whole pot. The coffee connoisseurs in the audience will know there are many ways to brew coffee, and they can taste vastly different. There's the cold press, the french press, the pour over, etc. There is flavored coffee, bold, mild, the list goes on. Then we can change how we like it. Whether it's a latte, cappuccino, Americana, or iced coffee. It seems the sky is limitedless with this versatile substance. Some of these coffees are more like a dessert than the neurostimulating beverage in it's regular form. So let's get down to the nitty gritty. 

Caffeine activates the adrenaline response in our body. It's that fight or flight mechanism that alerts our body that there is a threat nearby.  We get this rush to get moving and our body overfills with adrenaline and other stress hormones. Unfortunately, we tend to spend a good part of the day in this zone of adrenaline. It has toxic effects on a cellular level that affect our health in negative ways. Adrenaline is secreted from our adrenal glands. These triangle-shaped endocrine glands sit atop the kidneys and are chiefly responsible for regulating the stress response. In a time of trouble these hormones help us escape danger, but alas, caffeine is not typically viewed as dangerous, but our body is being tricked into this response. Adrenal glands are key to a healthy immune system and proper thyroid function. Overtaxing our body day in and day out leads to adrenal fatigue.

If you live in a place of chronic stress, the adrenal glands are consistently excreting adrenaline and stress hormones to counter act the stress your body is undergoing. Adding caffeine to the already stressed body increases problems such as a rise in blood pressure that may last for many hours after the consumption of caffeine. Even that one cup of coffee in the morning has affects on the body until bedtime. Studies have shown that caffeine may impair insulin action causing a rise in the body's blood sugar levels. Gastrointestinal problems like abdominal pain, diarrhea, and increased bowel movements could be an issue because caffeine is a stimulant. Those who have IBS, Crohn's disease or colitis should be extra cautious before choosing caffeinated beverages.

There's one more area though I would like to touch on....Bone health, particularly for women, is very important. When I do visit a coffee shop, the people I generally see consuming this dark beverage are adolescents and those in their late teens and early twenties.  Coffee shops are fun and friendly places to go to "hang out." My own three daughters still enjoy coffee shops. But, between the ages of 12-18 years, young people require more calcium and protein for building bones. Caffeine has been shown to interfere with the body's uptake of nutrients for building strong bones. Other factors can effect the absorption of nutrients also like processed or fast foods, but for now we will concentrate on caffeine. The teen years are a vital time during our life to set the foundation of future bone health. If the bones are not formed property with all the nutrients needed, it sets up the body for impaired function in the future. This should be the reason to proceed with caution!

Coffee is also acidic and can interfere with stomach acids making the body more acidic and even leading to acid reflux. Adding to the acidity is sugar and milk; both are lower in pH and increase that acid attack. I still enjoy coffee, but at a small rate. My cousin, Cindy, introduced me to a frother. Now I need/want frothed milk with my coffee. It’s a fun and inexpensive indulgence that feels like a coffee shop speciality. I use organic almond milk with just 4 ounces of coffee/adaptogens in the morning sometimes sweetened with xylitol. It’s just enough to allow me to enjoy this warm beverage, and with the adaptogens, I feel better about consuming it.

Even though this post discusses coffee as a means of caffeine, other beverages such as chocolate, soda and tea fall under this too. Caffeine, no matter what it’s in, should be used sparingly. Consider when the afternoon hits and the sleepiness feels heavy, rather than grabbing another cup of coffee, drink some water or inhale some peppermint oil. Another “wake me up” is to jump up and down for a minute to get the blood circulation going. Perhaps you can ask others to join you! Who knows, maybe you can start a new trend?

Health bite: Caffeine should be used with caution.

Medication For Life

About 16 years ago, I was diagnosed with hypothyroid disease.  It began when I noticed some weight gain I just couldn’t seem to lose. My gynecologist told me that it was because I had three children and I was getting older. Even though that was true, I had a gut feeling there was something more. Always go with your gut! Reluctantly and thankfully, she ordered a thyroid test.

A few days later, a nurse from the office called to tell me I should see my primary doctor immediately. I ask why? I didn’t even have a primary doctor. I only went to the OBGYN because I had become pregnant. I didn’t get sick or thought I needed a primary doctor. The nurse tried to explain that my numbers were very, very high and that I should not wait to see my doctor.

Of course, this scared the crap out of me! Was I going to die? Oh my goodness, I have three small children! What would happen to them? I’m not ready to die! Remember, this was before WebMD or the Internet in general. It was the old fashion phone calls to people who had no idea what I had either. After a series of doctors, specialists and a MRI, I was placed on medication and have been on it ever since…..until now.

About six months ago, I attended a continuing education class about thyroid disease. The information opened my eyes to the complexity of this problem. When the speaker asked if we had ourselves or knew someone with thyroid disease, to please raise their hands, every hand went up! This was not a rare disease. So what’s going on?

Hashimoto’s thyroid disease is the most common thyroid disorder, affecting about 85% of those diagnosed. It is an autoimmune condition, meaning that our own body attacks itself killing off what we need for balance. It’s a process that can go on for years, undetected, until one fateful day we exhibit symptoms.

I was told I would be always need to take medication. During this stage of my life, 16 years ago, I took those words as truth. Since then, I have become an obstinate patient, meaning, I question everyone and everything. No one knows my body better than me. I live with myself 24/7. It’s my home and I’ve decided to clean house!

Did you know that there is a 100% correlation between gluten sensitivity and thyroid disease? Hashimoto’s thyroid disease is an inflammatory disease. We are learning more and more that chronic inflammation is the root of many diseases we face. While acute inflammation is good for healing when we have an injury, chronic inflammation is often the underlying cause of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

Choosing an anti-inflammatory way of eating can help repair and perhaps reverse disease. I have chosen to give up gluten and sugar. These two substances are inflammatory agents and in combination really cause an inflammatory storm.

It is not easy. Anyone who knew me a couple of years ago would have said I thought sugar was a food group. The struggle is real, but I have chosen to heal my body. My goal is to have a blood test without my medication and my levels are normal.  I told my doctor I wanted to go off my medication, and I was willing to do whatever it took to heal my body. He told me he never had anyone say that before. That's too bad!

Please don’t go off your medication without the advice from your doctor. It’s important to find a specialist who is willing to work with you. I believe that our body is capable of repairing itself over time. I’ve had this disease for over 15 years, so healing it in a few months is not rational. It will take time and hard work. 

health bite: Is it time to clean your house?