Women, The Negatives of Caffeine Outweigh Any Benefits
A recent study of 50,000 women over a ten year period concluded that coffee consumption may prevent depression, giving coffee lovers cause for celebration that the Java they’re slurping is doing them some good after all.
Well, I beg to differ. Let’s look more closely at what this one study is saying compared to all the previous evidence - not to mention, common sense - about the effects of coffee.
Coffee has had a long place in civilization and is the number one socially accepted drug there is. (After all, you wouldn’t be knocking back a martini first thing in the morning now, would you?). It stimulates the central nervous system and increases the levels of dopamine and adrenalin levels which makes us feel more alert and motivated. But make no mistake, it’s highly addictive and sets up a cycle of physical dependence. Withdrawal leads to headaches, fatigue and irritability.
Keep topping up your coffee consumption, and eventually the over-stimulation to your system leads to irritability, palpitations (the shakes) and a rapid pulse and heartbeat. Coffee also makes blood sugar levels spike so you get a short term energy release, followed by a crash - and a craving for more coffee. It is also a gastrointestinal irritant which can cause heartburn and it raises cholesterol.
Substances like alcohol and caffeine also have a disproportionate effect on women because of our body composition and finely balanced hormonal system. Coffee prevents the absorption of vital vitamins and minerals, such as iron and B vitamins. Coffee also causes blood vessels to dilate so that women who drink coffee are more prone to sore and tender breasts (called fibrocystic disease) and, if menopausal, to hot flashes. If you already suffer from anxiety, nervous tension, stress or insomnia, coffee is only going to make you feel worse. And if you are affected by premenstrual syndrome (PMS), coffee is a definite no-no.
Continued on the next page
Follow Technorati