Coffee, the “other stimulant”, has also been around for thousands of years. The modern- day coffee-house has become a gathering place. Caffeine, coffee’s main ingredient is a mild addictive stimulant.
Just like cola, coffee has significant amounts of caffeine – about twice that of tea and chocolate. The amount of caffeine in coffee does have modest cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and occasional irregular heartbeat, in some people.
Excessive use
The negative effects of coffee tend to appear with excessive use, so it is best to avoid heavy consumption. However, some negative effects occur even without heavy consumption. For some people, even the average dose of caffeine, as found in two cups of coffee, shortens sleep time and increases rapid eye movement sleep (REM sleep).
High doses of caffeine can cause nausea, diarrhea, insomnia, trembling and sensory disturbances. Studies suggest regular caffeine use can contribute to the onset and discomfort of fibrocystic breast disease. Regular coffee drinkers experience physical dependence on caffeine and may suffer withdrawal symptoms, including tension headaches and irritability, which tend to go away in a few days.
Caffeine dependence
Many coffee drinkers also have a psychological dependence on caffeine, feeling they need a cup or two in the morning to get going. Caffeine increases dopamine release, which can create dependence like alcohol, sugar, or exercise. If you feel you could be dependent on caffeine and drink more than four cups of coffee a day, talk with your physician about cutting back. The same approach would apply if you are drinking that many cola beverages a day to keep you going. So with coffee, as with other caffeinated, drinks, moderation is the key.
As a helpful resource, I have lots of articles on healthy ingredients and recipes that you can implement into your daily life.
If you’d like to dig deeper into my journey of discovering God’s plan for health and wellness, check out my book, Made For Paradise: God’s Original Plan for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Rest.
