EVERYTHING IS KILLING YOU By Dr. Schizzo. “Nobody leaves this planet alive!”
COFFEE
Coffee is possibly the most ubiquitous drink in the U.S.A. Some rely on java to get their brains and bowels moving in the morning, while to others sipping it is akin to a religious experience. Dr. Schizzo drains down to the dregs of the ongoing controversy: is your cuppa joe toxic, or tonic?
THE GOOD STUFF: 1. Coffee Makes You Smarter Coffee contains caffeine, a stimulant which blocks the effects of an inhibitory brain neurotransmitter called Adenosine. This can improve mood, reaction time, memory, and cognitive function.
2. Coffee Burns Fat Caffeine raises metabolism and increases the burning of fatty acids, plus it improves athletic performance.
3. Coffee May Lower Diabetes Risk Coffee has been associated with a reduced risk of diabetes, from 23% to 67%. Each additional cup per day lowered the risk by 7%.
4. Coffee May Lower Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Risk Coffee drinkers have been shown to have a 60% lower risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia.
5. Coffee May be Good For Your Liver Coffee may lower the risk of cirrhosis by as much as 80%, especially for those who drink 4 or more cups per day. Coffee is said to lower the risk of liver cancer by 40%.
6. Coffee is Loaded With Nutrients A cup of coffee contains B vitamins, potassium, manganese, and loads of antioxidants.
7. Coffee Protects Your Heart Coffee could protect against heart failure and stroke. People who drink four daily cups of coffee were shown to have an 11% lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
8. Coffee May Decrease Your Risk of Premature Death Coffee has been associated with a lower risk of death by all causes. Even people who eat poorly and skip exercise can lengthen their lifespan by a decade by drinking at least one cup of coffee daily.
THE BAD STUFF: 1. Coffee increases cholesterol. Drinking unfiltered coffee like espresso may increase cholesterol levels, most likely due to the compound cafestol.
2. Coffee can be bad for diabetics. Studies show that in people with Type 2 diabetes, coffee can cause insulin spikes and increased blood sugar. High blood sugar leads to increased risk of heart disease.
3. Coffee can cause an increase in stress hormones. Stress hormones produce excess cortisol, which increases inflammation and weight gain, both of which can be factors in all kinds of nasty diseases.
4. Coffee can cause gut problems. Highly acidic coffee sometimes causes indigestion, heartburn, and imbalances in gut flora.
5. Coffee is addictive. Caffeine in coffee can become a physical addiction, with real withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, insomnia, bowel problems and depression.
6. Coffee can have side effects. Some people experience side effects like anxiousness, nausea, and headaches. Pregnant women might want to limit caffeine because of a link to miscarriage in heavy coffee drinkers.
7. Coffee drinkers pee important minerals. Loss of key minerals such as calcium, magnesium and potassium through urination of coffee drinkers can lead to health problems.
8. Anything hot is bad for your throat. Hot beverages, including coffee, have been linked to a higher risk of
Conclusion:
Fat burning, heart and liver protection, an extra decade of life – those things clearly outweigh dealing with a little heartburn, peeing minerals or becoming addicted. I choose a full finger-embrace of my syrupy, spicy Tanzanian peaberry. Hmmm. Excuse Dr. Schizzo, time for a cafecito.
A final note: The stuff you put in coffee is definitely not good. Loading up your java with sugar, milk and artificial flavorings opens up a whole new world of issues.
About Dr. Schizzo If you’re like Dr. Schizzo, you spend countless hours searching health and fitness topics, but finding only endless feedback loops and heated controversies. One site says eating meat is great, the next says it will kill you. Well, Dr. Schizzo has good and bad news. The good news is, nothing is probably as bad as it seems. The bad news is, everything is killing you. That’s right, nobody leaves this planet alive! But while we’re here, let Dr. Schizzo scour the web for you and come up with simple “good and bad” lists on a variety of health and fitness topics. Take one, or two, take as many as you like – but don’t call him in the morning. Because Dr. Schizzo is not a medical doctor, in fact he is a complete poser, and does not promote any health or medical advice whatsoever. He just finds out what the “experts” are saying, saving you a ton of time, anxiety and frustration. Share freely!