Caffeine and You

Caffeine has been proven by health professionals to have strong negative effects on the body, especially when taken in high doses. These include increased anxiety, panic attacks, increased blood pressure, increased gastric acid, bowel irritability and insomnia. Overall, caffeine puts added stress on the body because it depletes it of essential nutrients. When you consume caffeinated drinks, the caffeine flushes B vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium and electrolytes (potassium) from your system. These are all nutrients necessary for your body to function at optimum levels. Decreased values of these nutrients can result in the following:

B-Complex: These vitamins are involved in many functions in the body, including the digestion of carbohydrates. The absence of B vitamins during digestion can lead to fatigue and low energy.

Vitamin C: This vitamin is water-soluble and used up more readily when we are experiencing stresses to our system. C is very important for overall recovery and in the building of the immune system.

Magnesium: If you are a coffee drinker, you are most likely deficient in magnesium. Caffeine flushes out many nutrients from the body via the urine. If your magnesium levels are unbalanced, calcium deposits on your heart muscle can occur, resulting in heart disease (atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis). Many do not understand the importance of magnesium to the heart and I have seen the decrease or elimination of heart issues through the simple acts of adding a magnesium supplement and reducing or avoiding caffeine intake.

Potassium: Losing potassium hurts us metabolically. Our ancestors typically ate 16 times more potassium than sodium. We have now reversed that trend due to extremely high amounts of sodium in much of the food we consume today, leading to a greater risk of hypertension, osteoporosis and, more commonly, fluid and electrolyte-imbalances.

So how much caffeine is okay to consume?

When it comes to coffee, two cups of coffee per day for the average, healthy person is unlikely to cause great harm. I do believe organic coffee is better for you than non-organic, and filtered coffee is less stressful on the body than non-filtered (espresso).

Millions of Americans now consume energy drinks, as well, and these often contain excessive amounts of caffeine as the primary boosting ingredient. Studies have shown that teenagers are consuming energy drinks in extreme quantities, and health professionals are very concerned about the effects of these drinks, which are neither tested nor regulated by the FDA.

Caffeine does not have any nutritional value, and drinking excess amounts of it in coffee or energy drinks tends to limit and replace the consumption of healthier alternatives such as green tea, milk or water. After years of caffeine use, dependency can become a concern. If you do attempt to cut back or eliminate regular caffeine consumption, be prepared to experience withdrawal symptoms, including fatigue, mood alterations and headaches.

If you choose to consume caffeine in moderation, the following are some steps you can take to reduce its negative effects:

Decrease the amount of caffeine consumed - find alternatives like Greens, B-packets, & electrolyte packets that will boost your energy in healthier ways
Drink green tea instead of coffee or energy drinks when possible
Drink more water to buffer the effects of caffeine
Take a good B-complex and vitamin C daily
Take magnesium every evening to help you relax before bed
Decrease your sodium intake - eat more fresh, wholesome food, including foods high in potassium or supplement with electrolyte packets
Eat a balanced diet - consume protein, raw fats and complex carbs during every meal
Find a support group if you feel your caffeine consumption is out of control
Pay attention to your body - listen to what it's telling you and take action accordingly