For years, you may have been relying on coffee to wake you in the morning, keep you awake in the afternoon, and even, when the occasion required, stave off a night’s sleep. But it may be time to cut back on the caffeine, and, if you cannot imagine giving up the comfort factor that warm, fragrant coffee provides, at least switch to decaf. Why?
If you needed coffee to keep you going for any extended period, there’s a good chance your life was stressful when you did. And when you are under stress, you body produces a hormone called cortisol, which, as part of the stress response, raises your blood pressure and, more or less, keeps your body in a perpetual flight-or-fight state of readiness.
Caffeine increases the body’s cortisol production, exaggerating its stress response. Even decaf coffee stimulates cortisol release, implying that the caffeine in coffee is not the only culprit. Because stress has been identified as a great aging accelerators, decreasing coffee consumption may help you start feeling younger.
Both regular and decaf coffee are also linked to escalating cholesterol, heart arrhythmias, and blood vessel inflexibility. In addition, a study published in the August 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association indicated that some people have a genetic variation slowing the rate at which they metabolize caffeine. For individuals with this variation, even two cups daily of regular coffee lead to increased risk of heart disease. And, short of genetic testing, you can’t tell if you have the variation.
High caffeine intake can decrease the body’s absorption of essential minerals– potassium, calcium, zinc, and magnesium. Mineral deficiency has been linked to bone loss, muscle cramping, and irregular heartbeat.
Too much caffeine also affects brain function, by blocking the release of calcium in the memory center.
And research shows that, instead of sharpening thought processes, a coffee rush both slows information processing ability, and reduces verbal skills. Add to that the higher incidence of depression and anxiety attacks.
Then, concentrate on your next cup of coffee, and decide if it still tastes as good.
