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Coffee is one of the most consumed substances
in North America - estimates suggest North Americans drink over
700 million cups a day!
Why do you care?
The Good
- Coffee is rich in anti-oxidants - it contains more antioxidant
activity than cocoa, green tea, black tea, and herbal tea
- some which are increased with roasting.1/2
- Physiologically, coffee increases alertness and short-term
memory and physical performance by increasing blood sugar
to muscles.
- Coffee consumption lowers the incidence of Parkinson's
and Type II diabetes.
- During an acute asthmatic attack, coffee can improve breathing
up to 15% by increasing the forced expiratory volume. Use
only in an emergency when other treatments are unavailable.3
The Bad
- Coffee contains caffeine, which maintains stimulating
effects on the body for hours after ingesting - a typical
8 oz. cup has 135 mg of caffeine - 1/3 of the recommended
amount by Health
Canada.
- This stimulating effect can be addictive. Coffee drinkers
everywhere are saying -"no kidding..."
- Multiple cups of coffee daily can contribute to Adrenal
Fatigue Syndrome, which interferes with your natural "fight
or flight sense" and manifests itself as difficulty
waking up in the morning, decreased ability to handle stress,
and reduced productivity.
- Coffee can further raise blood pressure and affect those
with existing hypertension or high blood pressure.
- Bone loss can occur as the caffeine in coffee affects
calcium absorption - a concern if prone to or diagnosed
with osteoporosis.
The Deadly
- Pesticides used on coffee crops have immediate health
effects on crop workers. For example, Baysiston is the number
one pesticide used in Brazil, and is responsible for poisoning
hundreds of coffee growers and killing at least thirty people.
Other coffee producing countries, like Kenya, have documented
poisonings and deaths related to pesticides used on coffee
crops.4/5
- Other pesticides, like paraquat and endosulfan (a suspected
endocrine disruptor) may have long-term health effects on
the coffee consumer.
- Evidence of environmental impacts on pesticide crops include:
damage to soil micro-organisms, increased air pollution,
and pesticide-resistant weeds and insects.
The Know How
- Consider your coffee consumption - look at reducing the
number of coffees you have each day or over the course of
each week.
- Fair-trade organic coffee is healthier for you, the people
who produce the coffee and the environment. The premium cost
is worth it.
- Grain beverages are a healthy alternative. Try Inka - a
blend of barley, rye, beets, and chicory or Café Lib.
These may not give you the same reaction as coffee but may
satiate your need for a steaming hot drink in the morning.
- Green Tea has known anti-oxidant properties and has just
enough naturally occurring caffeine to give a little kick-start
to your day.
Know and Tell
- Tamey has very juvenile taste buds and detests coffee, and
boy is she glad!
- Patti is a known "tea granny" who prefers several
cups of regular and herbal tea a day. But she does anticipate
an occasional coffee fix - a soy au lait - large!
- Dr. Orbay drinks lots of filtered water throughout the day
Contributed by Dr. Mark Orbay, an Ottawa-based naturopathic
doctor who empowers individuals and families treat and prevent
chronic diseases, including Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome, with a
combination of healthy diet, sound lifestyle, and natural medicines.
1. Pellegrini, N. et al. Journal of Agricultural
and Food Chemistry,51, 260-264,2003.
2. Natelle, F. et al. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry,
50, 6211-6216, 2002.
3. Gong H Jr et al. Chest 89 (3) :335-42, 1986.
4. Pesticide Action Network North America www.panna.org
5. World Health Organization - Acute Toxic Pesticides www.who.int/heli/risks/toxics/bibliographyikishi.pdf
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