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Writers are notorious for drinking coffee as a means
to staying energized and productive. But I’ve noticed several issues lately any
time I drank coffee at night in order to work late or too much at any given
time. I’ve also read several articles recently concerning the health benefits
of coffee. So what does this mean for those of us who need its properties or
enjoy its flavor?
Liver
damage
Apparently excess caffeine causes liver damage
because while the enzymes used to break down the caffeine are busy doing so,
they are less available for breaking down other chemicals in the bloodstream
therefore causing the liver to work less efficiently at detoxifying the body.
It has been recommended that anything more than two cups of coffee a day is
excessive. And experts recommend replacing additional cups with water.
Hallucinations
According to a recent study reported by the BBC, people
who drink too much coffee could start seeing ghosts or hearing strange voices! Students
in the study who drank more than seven cups of instant coffee each day were
three times more likely to hallucinate than people who drank one cup. “Any stimulant
that you’re overdosing on, such as seven cups a day, will stimulate
hallucinations,” Dr. Teitelbaum explains.
Pregnancy
issues
A recent
study [by Kaiser Permanente Division of Research] found that consuming more
than two cups, of coffee a day doubled the risk of miscarriage. Another study published
in the British Medical Journal in November 2008 found that more than one cup of
caffeine a day while pregnant resulted in a lower birth weight for the baby.
Sleep
disruption
We all know we should get eight hours of sleep every
night. As writer, often combined with being parents, spouses, children of
elderly parents and working other jobs as well, it is rare that we can
accomplish this. Combine stress, anxiety AND coffee, those eight hours are
impossible. This was my most recent issue which ended up with my being sleepy
and unable to focus all day. This defeated any efforts I had made the previous
night. According to experts, “We have a natural rise in cortisol in the morning
to help us get out of bed and perform our daily tasks. However, if you are
drinking coffee all day, then this cycle becomes disrupted, and your higher
cortisol and adrenaline levels may interrupt a restful night of sleep.”
Addictive
qualities
“When used at more than 12 ounces a day for energy,
it becomes an energy ‘loan shark,’ crashing you later and taking more energy
than it gives,” says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D. and Medical Director of the
national Fibromyalgia and Fatigue Centers. He notes coffee consumption becomes problematic
when it’s not done in moderation and exceeds two cups each day. Plus, excessive
coffee intake in someone who already tends to have anxiety may trigger other
problems. It may cause palpitations, more anxiety, irritability, then rebound fatigue,
depression and sleepiness once the effects of the caffeine wear off in usually
three to three and a half hours.
Dehydration
Caffeine is a mild diuretic, so while many people
start their day with a cup of coffee, they are already at a deficit as far as
the six to eight glasses of water we need to stay hydrated each day. Drinking
excess amounts of coffee, which has a laxative effect, can also aggravate
irritable bowel syndrome. Caffeine also promotes potassium depletion; the net
effect being that the mineral balance in your body is disrupted.
Adrenal
exhaustion
Coffee releases the “stress hormone” cortisol and
adrenaline which help us respond to stress and provide us with energy and vitality
throughout the day. Heavy coffee drinkers secrete more cortisol and adrenaline
than those without a coffee habit, which may ultimately result in fatigue of
the adrenal gland. Adrenal fatigue is one of the most common culprits for the feelings
of fatigue and exhaustion.
Yellow
teeth
According to Jennifer Zartarian, N.D., the Wellness
and Research Coordinator at Long Island College Hospital of Brooklyn, coffee is
not friendly to teeth. “The dark brown color of coffee that develops when it is
roasted via a biochemical reaction, called the Maillard reaction, causes a stubborn
stain — which is difficult enough to remove from your clothes or living room
rug, so just think of what it is doing to your teeth!”
Got
acid?
Caffeinated beverages like coffee have an acidic and
astringent effect on the tissues of the body which prevents optimal absorption
and assimilation of nutrients and fluids in the digestive tract. In fact, acid interferes
with the absorption of magnesium and can cause stomach problems. It can run
into the intestine and cause ulcers, burn the tissue, contribute to bowel
problems.
Overall
health issues
According to a University of Scranton study, while
coffee is a top antioxidant in the American diet, it’s most beneficial when people
consume a variety of antioxidants, not just coffee. Although there are positive
aspects of drinking java, to prevent the negative health risks people should
drink the beverage in moderation. Coffee contains volatile oils (seen as a film
at the top of each cup), which disturb the function of the blood vessels. It
contains a lot of pesticides, which can cause the body to accumulate too many
toxins; it damages the immune system; it may cause osteoporosis as it depletes
calcium levels in the body; and there’s an overall increased risk of
cardiovascular disease.
