Top 10 Caffeine-Related Health Problems

[Guest guest]

JoAnn

In nearly all cases, I'm so happy to receive the info you present us with,

that I don't say anything about an occassional disagreement with research.

But with coffee, I feel compelled. It's very important to keep the

difference between " regular " and " de-caffeineated " coffee clear and present

when discussing the various problems assosciated with the use of this

product. The piece published below, extracted from " Caffeine Blues, " is

typical of anti-coffee material,

though I'm in near complete agreement with its general conclusions.

De-caffieneated coffee is mentioned " once, " in the piece, but the harangue

continues unabated, as if it applies in both cases. It doesn't always.

Most importantly, though, as usual, is the matter of dose. There is nothing

I find it more difficult to impress on the minds of people devoted to

changing their nutritional ways, than the notion that the more hazardous or

troublesome a food, the less you use of it. It isn't " always " necessary to

completely eliminate it from your diet. Someone that drinks 6 or 7 cups of

coffee a day, will experience a very different set of consequences to his

health, than someone that consumes 3 or 4 cups a week. But the essay you

show us, talks about coffee as a distinct hazard, without once mentioning

the matter of " how much " coffee is involved here. Small amounts of coffee

are spoken of as having a few positive health values these days, inasmuch as

its derived from the bean family, with all the associated benefits. I'm a

tee-totaler, because I detest the way alcoholic drinks taste, but I know

that very conservative use of alcohol can be an important part of a sound

nutritional support priogram against heart disease. But we could easily

find even more alarming evidence against alcohol (in large amounts) than are

revealed here about coffee, if we wanted to.

JP

-

" JoAnn Guest " <angelprincessjo

;

<DietaryTipsForHBP >

Saturday, February 21, 2004 12:53 PM

Top 10 Caffeine-Related Health

Problems

 

 

> Top 10 Caffeine-Related Health Problems

>

> The information below is taken from the book Caffeine Blues.

>

> Cardiovascular Problems

> Caffeine increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure, and can

contribute to the development of heart disease. Both decaf and regular

coffee increase your cholesterol and homocysteine, the biochemical that

science has linked to increased risk for heart attack. Caffeine is also

linked to coronary vasospasms, the cause for 20% of all fatal heart attacks

which kill otherwise perfectly healthy people.

>

>

> Stress

> Caffeine stimulates the excretion of stress hormones which can produce

increased levels of anxiety, irritability, muscular tension and pain,

indigestion, insomnia, and decreased immunity. Increased levels of stress

from caffeine can keep you from being able to make healthy responses to the

normal daily stress everyone is subjected to in their lives.

>

>

> Emotional Disturbances

> Anxiety and irritability are hallmark mood disturbances associated with

caffeine consumption, but equally important is depression and attention

disorders. Depression may occur as part of the let down after the stimulant

effects of caffeine wears off. It may also appear during the recovery period

after quitting caffeine while the brain's chemistry is readjusted. Caffeine

rather than increasing mental activity actually decreases blood flow to the

brain by as much as 30% and negatively effects memory and mental

performance.

>

>

> Blood Sugar Swings

> Diabetics and hypoglycemics should avoid caffeine because it stimulates a

temporary surge in blood sugar which is then followed by an overproduction

of insulin that causes a blood sugar crash within hours. If you're trying to

loose weight, this rollercoaster will actually cause weight gain since

insulin's message to the body is to store excess sugar as fat.

>

>

> Gastrointestinal Problems

> Many people experience a burning sensation in their stomach after drinking

coffee because coffee increases the secretion of hydrochloric acid leading

to an increased risk for ulcers. Coffee, including decaf, reduces the

pressure on the valve between the esophagus and the stomach so that the

highly acidic contents of the stomach pass up to the esophagus leading to

heartburn and gastro-esophageal reflux disease. With America's high

consumption of coffee, its no wonder the best selling over-the-counter drugs

are the so-called antacids.

>

>

> Nutritional Deficiencies

> Caffeine inhibits the absorption of some nutrients and causes the urinary

excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and trace minerals, all

essential elements necessary for good health.

>

>

> Male Health Problems

> Dr. Milton Krisiloff, M.D. has found that in the majority of cases, men

can significantly reduce their risk for urinary and prostate problems by

making dietary changes which include eliminating coffee and caffeine.

>

>

> Female Health Problems

> Fibrocystic breast disease, PMS, osteoporosis, infertility problems,

miscarriage, low birth weight infants, and menopausal problems such as hot

flashes are all exacerbated by caffeine consumption. Women on birth control

pills are particularly at risk since they have a decreased ability to

detoxify caffeine.

>

>

> Adrenal Exhaustion

> Caffeine consumption leads to eventual adrenal exhaustion which can leave

you vulnerable to a variety of health disorders related to inflammation,

autoimmunity, and fatigue.

>

>

> Aging

> Many people find in their forties that they can no longer tolerate the

same level of caffeine consumption as they could in their twenties and

thirties. The production of DHEA, melatonin, and other vital hormones start

to decline and caffeine speeds up that downhill drop. Caffeine dehydrates

the body and contributes to the aging of the skin and kidneys. It has been

shown to inhibit DNA repair and slow the ability of the liver to detoxify

foreign toxins.

>

> http://www.teeccino.com/Top10Reasons.aspx

> _________________

> JoAnn Guest

> mrsjoguest

> DietaryTipsForHBP

> http://www.geocities.com/mrsjoguest