As a holistic nutritionist one question I get asked all the time by clients, friends and family is “Is coffee bad for me?”. In my opinion the answer completely depends on the individual. For most people it depends on how your body metabolisers caffeine. Some people are “fast metabolizers” and some people are “slow metabolisers” due to a gene called CYP1A2, which basically means your body processes caffeine slowly. Fast metabolizers can often tolerate a lot more caffeine than slow metabolizers. In fact there are many more benefits of caffeine for fast metabolizers, some studies have shown that depression and anxiety decreased with increased caffeine intake from fast metabolizers. On the flip slide if you think you might be a slow metabolizer (listen, and tune into your body post caffeine), you may want to consider cutting back on the amount of coffee you drink.
Here are some of the pro’s and con’s of caffeine consumption.
Potential problems from drinking coffee:
- Caffeine and your dependence on it
If you are relying on caffeine to wake you up in the morning and get through the day in whatever form (coffee, energy drinks, numerous black teas) you may need to re-think your morning drink! Do you know what you feel like without caffeine in your system? If you cannot survive without a daily caffeine hit you may need to reassess your current health (diet and lifestyle) and ask yourself why you can’t get through the day without caffeine. Are you replacing a meal with a coffee? Are you not eating enough protein or fats with your meals to sustain your blood sugar levels? Are you not sleeping well? I always tell my clients “If you depend on it, it’s a problem” but if it’s for pleasure and you don’t suffer from any of the negative side effects of it then you’re okay. - Stress and anxiety
Caffeine from coffee is stimulant. For some people consuming too much coffee can cause heart palpitations, increase feeling of anxiety or jitteriness. If you’re an anxious person or have high stress levels, coffee might not be for you. - Hormonal health
If you have PCOS, endometriosis or any other hormonal imbalance you may need to consider either decreasing your caffeine intake or avoiding it all together. When your body is under stress it releases a hormone called cortisol, this is a normal stress response, but what’s not normal is extremely high levels of cortisol. As caffeine is a stimulant which can increase the stress response, in a stressed individual caffeine can increase cortisol levels, which can disrupt hormonal balance. - Disrupted sleep
As everyone metabolises caffeine differently, those who are slow caffeine metabolisers may suffer from sleep disturbances. Be mindful and listen to what your body is telling you. If you’re having poor quality (broken and easily disrupted) sleep, try avoiding coffee after 12-2pm or avoid it all together until you’ve established a healthy sleep routine. We are all individuals, and being aware of how caffeine affects you is something you may need to be more in-tune with. - Nutrient absorption
Caffeine can affect your body’s absorption of minerals such as iron, magnesium, calcium which for some can lead to deficiencies, particularly iron deficiency anemia. - Can cause weight gain is stressed individuals
Eating and exercise aren’t the only things that can impact our weight and health. Physical and emotional stress also affects our nervous system and can tip it into the ‘flight or flight’ mode causing weight gain. In an already stressed individual who’s cortisol and adrenaline levels are high, excesses caffeine intake will further increases these hormones, resulting in fat storage (due to the perceived stressed response the body is under).
Now that you are aware of some of the negative affects that caffeine can have on your body and health, lets good at the positive affects that it can have on your health.
Potential benefits from drinking coffee
- Mental alertness, focus and enhanced performance
Caffeine increases blood flow and circulation to your muscles, and given it’s a stimulant it can give you that extra push at the gym! Some studies show that drinking coffee pre-workout can not only enhance your performance but also help you to burn more calories. Caffeine also increases activity in the brain by blocking a neurotransmitter called adenosine and increasing the release of other neurotransmitters such as dopamine and norepinephrine. This helps to reduce tiredness and makes us feel more alert. - May help protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease
Some studies have shown that regular coffee drinkers have a lower risk of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and risk of dementia in old age. - It’s high in antioxidants
While of course you should increase your intake of whole foods such as vegetables and fruit to increase your antioxidants, coffee might be another great addition if you can tolerate it well. - Diabetes and metabolic syndrome
Some studies show that coffee may help improve blood sugar control and reduce weight by drinking 1-2 cups her day. - Can help chronic liver disease
Some studies show that coffee can decrease the risk of cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis C in individuals with chronic liver disease.
So what’s the answer? Well… it depends. Like everything in life, it should be consumed in moderation. If you’re a coffee lover, don’t get anxious, aren’t overly stressed, don’t have a hormonal imbalance or sleep issues then enjoying 1-2 cups a day before 12-2pm may serve you well (with no added sugar of course)!