That Morning Cup o’ Joe can do more than cheer you up: it could destroy you
With a Starbucks on practically every block, and “an extra frozen shake extra skim mocha” a standard way to order an afternoon drink, it’s not always easy to remember what we drank before the caffeinated Manhattan. . With a couple of cups of java just to get you started in the morning and a double espresso to better focus in the afternoon, coffee is becoming synonymous with energy. And New York is all about energy.
But is it good for us?
Symptoms of excessive caffeine use include depression, anxiety, restlessness, upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting. Moderate to heavy coffee consumption can even lead to heart disease. Addiction to sugary coffee drinks or sweet fizzy drinks can also lead to extreme mood swings or even diabetes.
Coffee can also cause an increase in stress hormones, according to Stephen Cherniske, author of “Caffeine Blues.” Every time we drink coffee, the adrenal gland produces adrenaline, the same thing that happens when we are afraid or angry. After a prolonged period of excessive caffeine consumption, the adrenal gland has no more adrenaline to produce. This leads to chronic fatigue, constant exhaustion, and susceptibility to disease. Dr. James D. Lane, who studied caffeine for 15 years, found that the stress hormones produced by a cup of coffee did not leave a participant’s body for up to 24 hours after consumption.
“If your diet is out of balance, you’ll need another pick-me-up, after your cup of coffee, to get your adrenaline going,” says Manhattan-based Dr. Craig Fishel. Most people reach for a cookie or piece of chocolate after their skim. precisely for that.
Caffeine is a substance found naturally in the leaves, seeds, fruits, and nuts of more than 60 different plants, and it’s added to foods and many over-the-counter medications. It is very quickly absorbed and distributed in the body; It goes directly to the central nervous system or the brain. Often combined with large amounts of sugar in beverages, caffeine can be difficult for some people to give up.
“I had headaches for a week after I stopped drinking coffee,” says retired New Yorker Bill Choney.
Eighty-five percent of all Americans drink coffee on a daily basis, according to the Duke University Medical Center, whether they want to or not. “Caffeine is similar to nicotine in its addictive properties,” says Feishel.
But caffeine can be kicked.
“The best way to kick caffeine is to replace half of your morning beverage with a decaf alternative, gradually decreasing the caffeinated portion,” says Fishel.
Sometimes giving up coffee brings quite unexpected results.
“My taste buds became more sensitive after giving up coffee,” says Nina Mineyeva, manager of Ernst & Young. “I discovered a whole world of herbal teas and other delicious beverages, instead of just mechanically gulping down coffee.”
Since everyone has a different tolerance level to caffeine, the key is knowing where to draw the line and how to get that New York energy rush while staying healthy, physically and emotionally.
Here are some ideas to help beat cuppajoe jones.
Take natural supplements with anti-inflammatory properties to lower your risk of heart disease: Turmeric, an herb used as a spice in many Indian dishes, has a compound called curcumin with strong anti-inflammatory properties; ginger root is a spice with many medicinal properties, including being anti-inflammatory; Omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in deep-sea fish, have been shown to reduce inflammation.
There are coffee alternatives in New York. Try going to your local health food store to try multiple varieties of herbal teas. You can also experiment with chicory root and barley drinks. As always, don’t forget to hydrate yourself by drinking water.
