part0036

Coffee, a favorite beverage in our culture, enhances mood, stimulates alertness, and increases mental performance. However, it contains hundreds of chemicals, including the powerful and well-known caffeine, an addictive chemical that is known to cause a number of negative health effects. It should be used in moderation, if at all. Not only does the coffee bean itself contain naturally occurring chemicals, but nonorganic coffee may also contain traces of pesticides, herbicides, and other harmful chemicals that can harm your body, as well as the environment and communities where it is grown. Decaffeinated coffee, although nearly caffeine-free, still contains the naturally occurring chemicals as well as harmful chemicals such as methylene chloride used in the decaffeination process. Although there are some proven health benefits to drinking organic coffee, it should be consumed in moderation (1–2 cups a day) due to its addictive qualities and potential for negative effects on health. Espresso has less caffeine than drip coffee. People with anxiety or panic should avoid coffee; however, people who are depressed, have ADHD, or need cognitive support may benefit.

Caffeine raises the body’s adrenaline levels and can lead to adrenal exhaustion. The adrenal glands regulate stress response, but when the adrenals are exhausted it may be difficult to respond to stress because they cannot efficiently produce the necessary hormones. Imagine driving a car with your foot on the accelerator while the car is in neutral. Eventually this will cause the engine to burn out. Your adrenal glands are like your body’s engine, ready to pump out hormones in response to stresses in your environment. When the adrenal glands are repeatedly overstimulated, which can occur with regular coffee drinking (and stress), they become less efficient.

* The caffeine content of yerba mate is currently being debated. Some say that the stimulant in yerba mate is caffeine, but that the nutritional benefits of mate (vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and antioxidants) act to balance out the negative effects of the caffeine. Other research indicates that yerba mate’s stimulating factor is not caffeine at all, but a compound called “mateine,” which is similar to caffeine. In either case, many individuals report that drinking yerba mate does not have the same negative side effects as drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages .

Although there are many studies showing coffee’s negative effects, there are also a number of studies indicating that coffee, if moderately consumed, may actually be beneficial. The following is a list of some potentially beneficial effects of moderate coffee consumption:

Caffeine Content Chart
	Serving Size (oz)	Caffeine Content (mg)
Coffee (brewed)	8	102–200
Black tea	8	23–110
Yerba mate *	8	110
Soft drinks	12	23–71
Green tea	8	20–30
White tea	8	15
Cocoa beverage	8	3–32
Dark chocolate	1	5–35

Coffee Substitutes
Beverage	Caffeinated?	Ingredients
Inka	No	Roasted barley, rye, chicory and beet roots
Roastaroma	No	Roasted barley, roasted chicory, roasted carob, cinnamon, allspice, and Chinese star anise. * Contains gluten
Teeccino	No	Carob, barley, chicory, almonds, dates, figs, coffee flavor
Roasted dandelion root	No	Roasted dandelion root
Dark roast yerba mate	Yes*	Roasted yerba mate
Chai	Yes	Black tea, cardamom, cloves, cinnamon, ginger
Genmaicha	Yes	Green tea and roasted brown rice