Saturday November 21st, 2009
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Coffee: Friend or Foe?
Posted by Jessica Harlan on September 17, 2008 - 1:32pm.
A friend recently announced to me that as part of her diet, she was cutting out coffee. I know she's as much a coffee fiend as I am, so I asked her why. After all, when I'm trying to lose weight, I usually switch to skim milk and Splenda in my cup of joe.She said her doctor had told her that coffee is very acidic, and the acid that the body can't turn into alkaline, it turns into fat. After all the hype I've heard over the past few years of the health benefits of coffee I was disappointed to hear that the pendulum might again be swinging the other way, and my favorite habit will again turn into a vice to be vilified.
I decided to do some investigation about the connection between coffee and weight gain.
I couldn't find any research that supported the specifics of the acid in coffee causing weight gain, but it turns out, there is some truth to the notion that coffee can make you fat. One article I read noted that heavy coffee drinking can cause adrenal fatigue and hypoglycemia, which can lead to weight gain, exhaustion and thyroid problems.
In another article an interview with noted dermatologist and nutrition expert Nicholas Perricone, M.D. said that coffee raises the levels of cortisol, a stress-related hormone, which in turn can raise your blood sugar levels, prompting the body to start converting excess calories into fat. Perricone says that switching from coffee to tea can cause you to lose up to eight pounds in six weeks, even with no other changes in diet or exercise habits.
Of course, part of the problem might not be with coffee itself, but how you drink it. After all, coffee doesn't contain any calories or fat, but if you're like me, you'll be adding a splash of milk or half-and-half, and a spoonful or two of sugar or sweetener. On weekends it's hard for me to resist a foamy latte or a refreshing frozen coffee drink. It's easy to forget that all of those extras add up... and add on the pounds.
I checked in with my friend to see how her new coffee-free life was going. She traded in her Starbucks cards for jumbo packs of green tea, and a week after quitting cold turkey, she's already lost a little weight. Even better, she sleeps better and finds that it's easier to wake up in the mornings.
My friend (and the research I came across) have me convinced: I'm going to try to kick my own coffee habit, at least for a month or so. Who knows, maybe I'll discover I love tea just as much!
Image courtesy Ahmed Rabea.
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I find it just a little amusing that the two references you mentioned had totally differing opinions. "Hypoglycemia" and "raise your blood sugar" are opposites. Sometimes it's hard to understand what to believe when "experts" talk.
Me, I'm an admitted heavy coffee drinker, black with one pack of Splenda, never, ever anything else. I think I'll stay right where I am.
To me, Coffee is definitely a friend!
Get some matcha green tea from http://www.matchasource.com - you won't miss the coffee!! This stuff is delicious and very healthful. I'm a customer of theirs (no personal benefit from recommending them) and have had nothing but positive things to say about the company and product.
Stay away from toxic artificial sweeteners - including Splenda!
More on http://www.OneHealthyGirl.com
Be well, xo-C.
i have heard all the pendulum swinging about this coffee thing over the years also; im with Pops, im stayin where im at.
i also enjoy green tea, chai, earl grey, etc, etc. there just isnt an acceptable substitute for that first, fresh, hot, wonderful cup of joe!!!!
This is one of my pet peeves. People say coffee is acidic and don't realize that acid comes from bad coffee treatment.
If you use cheap coffee or get starbucks then yes you have acidic coffee.
Coffee is not acidic. After roasting a clock starts and you have about 10-20 days (depending on roast/climate) before your coffee TURNS acidic.
Fresh roasted coffee in water or milk is actually ph balanced or slightly alkaline. I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and noticed that my swelling and pain was inflammed from cheap/ old starbucks coffee. When I got fresh roasted Vivace or roasted my own, I had no symptoms.
If you use anything improperly or use any rotting food you can expect bad results.
Fresh roasted coffee not only has multiple times the "good healthy stuff" of older coffee but the taste is unrecognizable compared to cheap coffee.
Coffee is as bad as you make it!
GuruJ
Ascension Wellness Center
www.AscendWell.com
I am a independent coffeehouse owner and agree with you also there's a toddy or filtron method that keeps the wonderful taste of coffee but removes alot of what people believe to be acidic really it just lowers the pH even more than the average cuppa so that it's virtually acid-free
Im not sure whether or not it keeps the same health benefits but it's pretty smooth.
Are you referring to Clover?
http://cloverequipment.com/home/default2.aspx
I've been eager to try this new coffee brewing method... supposedly it makes the most amazing, smooth cup of coffee.
To be honest, I think coffee is neither a friend or foe. Nowadays so many people drink coffee. Coffee gives people energy, some people need and however some don't. Coffee wakes people up and gives them extra energy they may need. However after you have no more energy you feel all wiped out. that's not really a good thing. However, you don't have to stop drinking coffee to not gain weight just exercise if you want to stay in shape. More people should be exercising to stay in shape. Maybe with people in shape they will be less likely to crash, but then again that's my opinion. Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but you would have to think logical on something like this. Some people maybe addicted to coffee, having it every morning, possibly having more than 3 cups a day. So if it is true that drinking coffee make you gain more weight not that many people will care. A lot of people are overweight and don’t seem to care, so if it is true that coffee makes you gain weight they will continue to consume their coffee as is without a care in the world.
I am a coffee freak !
i try to limit my coffe intake max 3 before noon.
i did stop before, each time was VERY hard, incredible headaches, but I did feel better after a few weeks. Better sleep makes everything fall back into place