Why should I not drink that cup of coffee?

So you work long hours? Have to balance work, home, kids, and social life – busy schedule. You could do with some time out maybe but not right now as you have a deadline at 9am tomorrow. Let’s just have another cuppa. Well, that strong coffee is making you a good candidate for a heart attack maybe – or worse.

Caffeine does so many things to the body that are bad for us. The most obvious effect on your body is that it is habit forming and you will get withdrawal when you stop. So if you want to stop do it on a weekend or when you can take time out to handle the withdrawal.

Caffeine can cause tremors and heart palpitations, depleted energy, reduced sex drive, insomnia, increased risk of osteoporosis, headaches and migraine, temporary increase in blood pressure, increased pulse rate, loss of nutrients due to the diuretic effect, indigestion, hyperactivity, agitation, breast tenderness and lumps, carpal tunnel syndrome, stomach ulcers, impotence in men, infertility and miscarriage. Some of these are obviously due to caffeine intake over a long period of time.

Caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, drinking chocolate, cola, sports drinks, some deserts, ice cream and some headache tablets. It increases stress on the body, affects our blood circulation, heart, blood pressure and kidneys.

Sometimes it will give you a rush if your intake is high. It may perk you up but it is not good for you. Why not try some substitute health food store alternatives? Or swap to decaffeinated/detanninised tea? (Madura make one with 3% caffeine which is no big deal).

Per one 150ml cup ground coffee or instant contains 115mg of caffeine, decaffeinated contains 3mg, tea contains 40mg, decaffeinated tea only 3mg, cola 18mg, cocoa 4mg. Per 225g bar of chocolate dark chocolate contains 160mg of caffeine and milk chocolate 40mg. Painkillers contain about 30mg. So depending on what you drink and how many painkillers you take you could have quite a high caffeine intake. Whilst it is true we now have ‘green’ coffee with antioxidants it does not discount the fact that it still contains caffeine.

The best way to help your body detoxify after you cut down is to eat cabbage, broccoli and brussel sprouts as these all contain chemicals that help the liver detoxify. Vitamin C found in fruit and vegetables and B1 and B3 in whole-grains, seeds, nuts, vegetables, beans, lentils, eggs and milk will also remove damaging toxins. Drink 1.5 – 2 litres of water a day to cleanse it out of your system.

If you are fairly healthy and you can drink it in moderation then a cup of coffee here and there is understandable as part of your regime since for many the taste is alluring. As with most things the trick is to not go overboard – everything in moderation.