1. Coffee triggers inflammation. Inflammation is harmful for our health and self-esteem; it has been continuously linked back to being the root of many harmful and chronic illnesses. If your health alone will not give you an incentive to cut down, maybe your vanity will! According to Dr. Perricone, inflammation contributes to saggy skin and acne.
2.Coffee is a diuretic. The caffeine in coffee is a diuretic and increases the amount of calcium we excrete in our urine for several hours after we drink it - this is particularly harmful for those suffering from Osteopenia or Osteoporosis.
3. Coffee affects our blood sugar and cortisol levels. This is not due to the caffeine in coffee, but is due to the organic acids coffee contains. Cortisol is a natural hormone in our body, but when we produce too much of it, it counteracts it's original purpose, causing impaired cognitive performance, weight gain, decreases in muscle gains, and causes high blood pressure.
4. Coffee has pesticides. Unfortunately, it is not only fruits and vegetables we have to worry about; coffee contains high levels of pesticides due to its growing process. Pesticides often leave lingering residues on many crops including coffee, which we consume and store in our bodies. Pesticides are poisonous, enough said?!
5. Coffee stains your teeth. With teeth whitening kits on the rise, being sold at every drug store and supermarket from almost every brand imaginable, it is no wonder why they are such a hit; America's addiction to coffee! Coffee stains your teeth, especially if you add sugar. Stop handing over your hard earned cash to Crest and invest it in something better!
The average American drinks up to 3 cups a coffee day, according to a spokesman for the National Coffee Association; this statistic does not do us justice. No one is saying you should completely eliminate coffee from your life. Rather it would be highly beneficial to your health if you cut down drastically on your consumption.
Like many stimulants, caffeine is highly addictive and initially, may be hard to give up. For starters, coffee drinkers should attempt to only treat themselves to one cup a day and eventually replace their morning coffee with tea. Green tea, for example, is an excellent choice since it contains many antioxidants as well as a healthful substance called theanine.
Theanine has many benefits and actually counteracts the negative effects of caffeine. Don't have a taste for green tea? Try Roobios tea! Many coffee drinkers favor Roobios tea for its warm and nutty flavors and yet it's still very beneficial to our health. It is important to know that like coffee, tea is much better when brewed loose. Loose tea may be bought at specialty and grocery stores as well as on the Internet. Hit up your local Teavana store for a wide selection of fresh, loose tea. Teavana has an exceptional selection and has several locations throughout South Florida.
Green Tea Latte Recipe:
1 cup of regular, soy or almond milk
½ cup of water
1 tablespoon of green tea powder (matcha)
2 teaspoons of a sweetener of your choice
Directions:
In a small saucepan, combine milk, water, tea and sweetener. Warm over medium-heat and occasionally stir until hot and foamy. Pour into mugs and enjoy!