What’s Your Relationship With Coffee?
The coffee culture is alive and well with 64% of Americans and 71 % of Canadians consuming coffee daily. They are also drinking 2-3 cups on average per day. This is a lot of coffee, no wonder it is a multi billion-dollar industry. We all have our reasons for consuming this beloved beverage. Though, have you ever considered:
What is your relationship with coffee?
Even when we feel negative affects, we keep on drinking it!? I am all for making things work to the most optimal level possible. So, I decided to share some insights on how coffee affected me, how it can contribute to negative symptoms in the body and how to help enhance your coffee experience and minimize some of these negative effects. I love coffee and was never affected by caffeine until I suffered a major burnout 10 years ago. There was a combination of things that triggered my sensitivity and it made me consider what my relationship was with coffee.
Why am I drinking it and how was it affecting my day? Better yet, my health.
I now have a love hate relationship with my once morning friend. It was what I looked forward to in the morning and was part of my wake up, selfcare moment, and step into the day feeling energized and clear. Now, some days I still feel this way though eventually it ends up feeling like a crutch, a necessity to subside the symptoms of caffeine withdrawal. This is not how I want my relationship with coffee to be. What I didn’t realize at the time was that my lifestyle and not being aware of how coffee and caffeine affects our bodies was contributing to creating the negative side effects I was experiencing.
You see, I live a healthy lifestyle that includes physical fitness and 80% of what I eat is healthy or considered whole foods. I take vitamins (when I remember) and so I couldn’t quite figure out why I felt all these negative symptoms when the caffeine sensitivity started. The things that were going on in my life at the time were extreme job stress, lack of sleep, travel to different time zones, late nights both computer work and/or entertaining clients, trade shows, and not enough calorie intake.
Over time this will wipe anyone out. You can only do this for so long before symptoms start to appear. Some of what I felt was, adrenal fatigue, pure exhaustion day after day, irritable bowel, weight loss, headaches, and moodiness. But I always had my morning coffee and three o’clock caffeine boost to make me feel I was on top of it all. Practitioners and others around me would say, cut out the coffee and I was like, “WHAT?” no, that’s a deal breaker. I need it.
That warm cup fuels my soul in the morning and boosts my afternoons. How could I give that up?
Well, eventually I had to, and I did for a full year. Why? Because what I realized is that my lifestyle was contributing to these symptoms and no matter how healthy I ate or that taking vitamins in the morning were going to subside them. How is that possible? That’s what most practitioners tell you is eat healthy and take your vitamins right? Well, yes it will work but only once you reset your digestive system and learn more about the affects of caffeine on the body. Keep in mind caffeine is likely in many things you consume in the day not just your beloved coffee. So, you may be taking in more than you realize.
Now, please note I am not a health expert, doctor, or nutritionist. I am a transformational coach and someone who is sharing this personal experience in hopes it will help others identify their relationship with coffee or caffeine and tips that may help others experiencing something similar. Part of my coaching is supporting people on how to navigate burnout and this one comes up a lot.
So, what did I learn through my journey?
I learned how even though I was eating healthy my system was under high stress due to the lifestyle I was living. Which in turn meant that my body was not absorbing all the nutrients I was feeding it.
Taking vitamins with your morning coffee or anytime with caffeine doesn’t allow your body to absorb all that it needs from certain vitamins. Caffeine is a diuretic which means you will pee out most of the goodness from water-soluble vitamins. Your body won’t have time to absorb it and put it to good use.
My physical activity was at a high, yet I wasn’t getting enough calorie intake. Add coffee and caffeine to the mix and I was losing whatever nutrients I did have through frequent bathroom breaks. Over time, my body couldn’t keep up. By removing coffee from my routine, I began to notice restful nights, and mornings began with ease. I was awake steadily through the day without the afternoon lull or crash. I was having less bathroom breaks and normal bowel movements. Even my skin felt better and less dry. My headaches subsided and I felt a more even mood through the day.
During long haul weeks with work and travel I began swapping the coffee times with fruit or veggies. I know it doesn’t feel the same as hitting up the coffee shop with a colleague or friend but remember this can be a part of the “reset”. You can get back to the coffee catch ups eventually. Or have a rooibos tea or other NON caffeinated drink. Don’t have caffeine free tea of coffee as it still has a small amount of caffeine. Stick to the herbal options that naturally have zero caffeine.
Keep in mind the idea is to give yourself time to build back a healthy gut which will in turn provide you with better energy and nutrients overall. You do not have to cut out your coffee for a full year as I did. That was a personal choice. Consult a health expert and see what could be right for you.
Where I am now with my love of coffee?
Well, I only drink decaf so that already cuts down the caffeine but still provides a little boost when needed. I won’t have it every day and rather when I feel I am craving that nice warm moment in my day. Or enjoying great conversations with others over a cup of java. Now that I have become aware of the connection between what was going on in my body and my caffeine intake, I am able to manage it and still enjoy my beloved cup of coffee.
So, consider “what is your relationship with coffee?”. What part do you want it to play in your day? The nemesis, the crutch or a little bit of joy and comfort?
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