To drink coffee or not to drink coffee? This is the question many of us regularly wrestle with. It doesn’t help that media reports continually flip back and forth as to whether it’s a miracle cure or a cup full of poison.
Seriously?? What’s a person to do?
Well, there are a number of potential negative health effects that we do know come with coffee consumption (well, any caffeine consumption really). Most of these effects surround around what caffeine does to your metabolism and your adrenal glands.
Okay, backup…you’re probably asking what the heck are adrenal glands?
An excellent question! So, let me give you the nickel tour of the adrenals…
The adrenals are two little glands that sit at the top of your kidneys. Though they be but little, they are mighty! These glands are responsible for producing a number of hormones that regulate everything from blood sugar to blood pressure to stress reactions. Important stuff!
So what does coffee have to do with the adrenal glands?
Well, caffeine is a stimulate. And, if this stimulate is absorbed too quickly then it can cause the neurons that send the message to stimulate the adrenal glands to get all excited. This results in the adrenals going into overdrive and amping production of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol (our stress hormones).
If you’ve ever gotten the jitters from a cup of coffee you can thank the release of these hormones for that.
The problem is, chronic high production of stress hormones is not good for us. First, the release of stress hormones affects metabolism by initially blunting hunger only to leave you ravenous later. You can imagine what that is doing to your blood sugar balance and ultimately, your hormone balance.
Second, continual overproduction of stress hormones exhausts our adrenal glands. As is, our adrenals are pretty overworked given all the modern day stressors. The last thing we need is to make even more work for these poor little glands. Remember, anything we abuse too much will eventually give out on us. The adrenals are no different. Work them too hard and they just might quit working on you. And, since the adrenal glands are a super important part of hormone balance and (yep, you guessed it!) fertility, it’s important that we give these glands a break.
On the other hand, studies point to a number of health benefits to regular coffee consumption. We’re talking a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes for coffee drinkers as well as lower risk of alzheimer’s and parkinson’s. Lower risk of certain liver diseases has also been noted for those who drink coffee regularly.
Besides all of those health benefits, some of us just really like coffee! 🙋♀️
So, this is where Power Coffee comes in. My little trick for being able to enjoy my beloved cup every morning without the shakes and blood sugar crash that normally comes with regular ol’ joe.
What is Power Coffee, you ask?
It’s coffee souped up with some healthy fat and protein. Mixing in some good quality fat and a little protein in your coffee adds vital nutrients while also giving you even more energy and helping to keep your hormones and blood sugar balanced. SWEET!!
As an extra bonus, it also makes for one super creamy, delicious cup of joe!
Here is a recipe for Power Coffee for you to try out. Drop a note in the comments and let us know what you think!
Power Coffee
8-10 oz cup of brewed coffee
1 – 2 tsp. Virgin coconut oil
1 Tbs. raw cashew butter
Brew coffee as normal. Add coffee, coconut oil, and cashew butter to blender and blend until smooth. Add a little plant-based milk for extra creaminess, if desired.
Delicious served hot or cold. To serve cold, simply pour over ice after blending. To serve hot, warm in pan over medium heat until just before boiling. Enjoy immediately.
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BTW…if you are looking to give up coffee, I’ve got a great substitution for you. This is my go to non-coffee coffee. All the flavor of coffee and none of the caffeine or side effects. WIN-WIN!
