Feeling like you can’t operate without your morning AND afternoon coffee?
Too much caffeine can interrupt your sleep patterns, elevate cortisol, and leave you feeling wired and tired. This combination can seriously dismantle your natural daily sleep cycle, known as the circadian rhythm, not to mention push your adrenal glands a little too hard (these little gems produce our cortisol and other important hormones).
Many of our coffee loving patients don’t realize that they are actually worsening their daytime energy by indulging in a little too much of the morning (and afternoon) Joe. Even I fell victim to the coffee crush… during medical school, there was a point where I was living off of borrowed energy and consuming entirely too much coffee… especially during midterms and finals. I wasn’t thriving on coffee. I was surviving on coffee.
But coffee isn’t all bad & caffeine isn’t the only bio-active compound in that cup of Joe!
Yes, we know… caffeine, the most famous plant alkaloid in coffee, is known for its central nervous system stimulatory, neuroprotective and antioxidant properties (i.e. positive effects on your brain!). But did you know that it also allows for stronger muscle contraction; thus making it a commonly used aid for enhancement of athletic performance. Moderation is key to experiencing the benefits.
Some of the other action-packed compounds found in coffee:
- Caffeic acid is believed to reduce Nf-KB levels…. So in other words, it reduces inflammation.
- Melanoidin (formed during roasting) also has antioxidant properties.
- Trigonelline is a therapeutic compound that has a hypoglycemic effect; in other words, it can help reduce blood sugar levels.
Our general rules to enjoying your daily coffee:
- Limit consumption to ideally 1 cup per day…. Do you just love your morning-long ritual of a couple cups of that warm hug in a mug? Try consuming half caff, by mixing your coffee with half hot water.
- Blend in some blood sugar stabilizing or immune-boosting powders. We love Vital Proteins Collagen Creamers and Four Sigmata Mushroom Powder Blends (found at most any health foods store).
- Stop consuming coffee by early afternoon – drinking it too late can work against your natural decrease in cortisol and impact your ability to fall asleep easily.
Here’s to drinking responsibly… and cheers to your morning latte, cappuccino, or Americano! Contact us for more support on your wellness journey.