Should You Reduce Your Coffee Intake?
Coffee, or Coffea arabica, is a powerful medicinal plant with a known history dating as far back as 1000 A.D. It has been used in cases of asthma, pain, depression, gall and kidney stones, a decongestant in cold, flu and allergies and even for menstrual issues for its vasoconstrictive action. Coffee is not without side effects though. It contains caffeine, which has addictive properties that may lead to physical dependence. It can also contribute to dizziness, headache, dehydration, heart palpitations, insomnia and digestive upset.
Herbal medicine is highly individualized to a persons specific set of symptoms and body constitution. The dose, method of consumption and time of day are all considered. Why is it assumed that coffee can be consumed by everyone in the same way?
There are a handful of conditions where I recommend eliminating, reducing or changing the way in which someone consumes coffee:
Anxiety
Sleep issues
Diarrhea
Acid Reflux/Heartburn
Constant fatigue
Skin issues
Red Flag Check 🚩
If your BMs are loose after a cup, this is a sign that this plant is too strong for your system. BM is well formed after coffee? No problem here.
Anxiety worse with coffee? Not your plant. Let’s adjust when and how much you are drinking.
Constant fatigue have you relying on coffee for energy? Let’s cut back or give your system a break while we figure out the real reason your energy is low.
Can your coffee tolerance vary over time? Yes! It’s all about finding a balance that works for your body when you need it.
There’s plenty of research that discusses the negative impacts of too much caffeine, your adrenals, hormones and nervous system. There are also benefits to coffee like antioxidants and bitter compounds! So when we hear coffee is “bad” but also “good” it can be confusing knowing what to do.
Moving away from binary labels like “bad or good” can help us form a relationship with this plant that help us thrive.
Here are my tips for reducing coffee intake
Go for a split shot. Request a half decaf/half regular shot in your next latte (AKA split shot or half caf)
Reduce the amount of cups you have in a day. If you find yourself having two, three or even four cups of coffee, try cutting that in half.
Replace with low caffeine drinks like tea.
Alternate days you drink coffee. One day on, one day off. Alternate with tea or another morning beverage.
Opt for decaf. Many folks say they drink coffee because they like the flavor and the ritual, not necessarily the caffeine. Try decaf instead! This keeps the coffee ritual alive while significantly reducing the caffeine intake. Did you know decaf still has a minimal amount of caffeine in it?
Try herbal coffee. Have you heard of herbal replacements for coffee? These herbs have a roasted coffee-like flavor and can act as a replacement while actually supporting your body’s natural detox pathways. Check out the Rasa Coffee Alternative.
General tips when consuming coffee
Always consume coffee with food, never on empty stomach. Having protein and fiber in your system can help reduce feelings of anxiety and jitters because the caffeine will take more time to metabolize. Even a small piece of toast with butter or avocado can make all the difference!
Only drink before noon. Some people who experience insomnia are more sensitive to caffeine than they realize.