EVOLVING FITNESS ONE BODY AT A TIME

Thursday, February 6, 2014

That Magic Bean... Coffee!!


 
 
If you haven't seen, there have been a rash of articles being published lately on the benefits of coffee.  We've been touting it for a while, and you've undoubtedly seen us walking around with our coffee cups.  Not only is it a very tasty and enjoyable beverage, but there are lots of health benefits to it as well!

Coffee is very high in nutrients such as magnesium, antioxidants, b vitamins, and bioactive compounds called polyphenols.  All of these have actually been shown to take part in the process of cellular energy production, or "metabolism."  That's right- drinking coffee can actually speed up your metabolism!  Even caffeine has been shown to be a very protective nutrient in the metabolic process and also protective against decline in brain function, or dementia (click here for the study)!  The polyphenols and some of the other nutrients in the coffee have also been shown to enhance cognition (click here).  And more and more, coffee is being linked to longevity.  In one study, drinking 6 or more cups of coffee a day decreased risk of death by 15% for women and 10% for men (click here)!

Many people report giving up coffee and feeling horrible, more tired, foggier, etc., and it typically gets blamed on an addiction.  But, if coffee has all of these health benefits and helps our body function better, could it be that we're actually missing important nutrients that we were getting from the coffee?  When the body isn't getting what it needs to function and survive, we start to feel horrible, tired, foggy, etc.  Maybe the coffee is actually filling a nutritional need and allowing us to function more optimally...  We're not big on making someone feel guilty for indulging in something they love, and especially not to go so far as to accuse them of being an "addict!"

So, how much should we have and how should we drink it?  In general we say, have as much as you want to taste.  That can be anywhere from 1-6 cups in a day depending on activity levels, sleep, social factors, etc.  Because it will increase your metabolism (stimulating the use of glucose for energy) we recommend having coffee with a meal.  We also highly recommend adding cream/milk and sugar to fuel the metabolic process.  Having an adequate amount of sugar is very important (and tasty!) for this process to work effectively.   The polyphenols in the coffee also stimulate the release of insulin, which will quickly lower your blood sugar, followed by a burst of adrenaline to raise blood sugar levels back up (the actual cause of the "caffeine buzz"!)  This stress response is not desired and is counter-productive, so having enough sugar, fat, and protein to accompany it is important.  

The amount of sugar needed varies from person to person, so you'll need to experiment- preferably in the morning!  If you start to feel any sort of "buzz", you need more sugar.  It sounds weird, but believe us, when you find the right amount of sugar, your body will actually relax and calm down!  Once you improve your sugar stores and find the right amount, coffee can be enjoyed any time of day with no effect on your sleep. (Andy has been known to enjoy a cup right before bed to help him sleep!) 

Adding the protein and fat from the cream/milk will also help slow down the fuel burning to make it steady and sustainable for long-lasting energy.

In case you haven't seen it, we now have a coffee station up front, complete with sugar and cream, free for our members!  Grab a cup on your way out the door, or just stop in and say "Hi" and have some jo!

Not only is coffee a tasty and enjoyable treat, but it can actually make you healthier and extend your life.  That's a win all around!

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