Hey everyone,
As you all know I am in love with chocolate and coffee. But I've decided to give it up. I will make exceptions for birthday cakes and holidays but otherwise I think it's time I kicked the habit. I feel like I'm really striving to be clean and yet I regularly consume packaged chocolate bars. I think quitting chocolate and coffee is one of the last major changes I need to make in order to achieve a high level of health. And I think I need to quit both at once.
Chocolate pros:
It is true that pure dark chocolate has many health benefits including high iron levels, high antioxidant levels, metabolism boosting and heart health boosting properties. But the reality is most of the time I am not consuming $5 dark chocolate bars.
Chocolate cons:
Most of the time I am consuming processed milk chocolate with lots of saturated fats, corn syrup, refined sugar and preservatives.
Coffee pros:
Coffee drinkers have less Parkinson's, dementia, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. However, this could just be due to the common characteristics of coffee drinkers. I have noticed that many people who do not drink coffee substitute with soft drinks like Coke and tend to be of a lower socio economic background and therefore, more prone to some of the above noted diseases.
Coffee cons:
And... coffee has some known negative effects, mostly as a result of its dehydrating properties. Caffeing found in coffee pulls water out of the body (which is why you have to urinate so much when you drink a big cup in the morning). This water is coming from your skin (which results in wrinkles), your mouth (which results in tooth decay) and other parts of your body. Most Asian people I know do not drink coffee - they tend to drink herbal teas instead - and these Asian people look very young for their age.
Another benefit to quitting coffee and chocolate is that my bones will be stronger. I have very small bones to start with so I really can't afford to losing any more bone density. Caffeine inhibits calcium absorption and therefore prevents the remineralization of bones. Essentially caffeine is one factor that can cause bones to become this and brittle and fracture in old age. (Side note - do not take osteoporosis medication - it has been shown to cause hip fractures in long time users). See link: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2010-03-11-bones11_st_N.htm
Results:
I have noticed that since giving up chocolate and coffee my hunger levels have stabilized. I used to have terrible cravings and I always felt hungry. Now my blood sugar levels are normalizing and everything from my mood to my sleep is feeling more steady.
Need some other reasons:
Coffee can cause weight gain. Coffee increases cortisol levels. Your body naturally produces cortisol when you are stressed so coffee is mimicking this. When you are stressed your body will store as much fat as possible because it is prepping you for going for a long period of time without food. Think hunter gatherer days.
Doubts:
The only thing that is making me a little weary about all of this is that there are some studies that show that coffee may prevent baldness and encourage hair growth.
I think I really need to quit both coffee and chocolate at once. If I keep consuming one, my blood sugar and cortisol levels will become destabilized and I will crave the other.
I think the benefits outweigh the potential negatives so I'm going for it.
Free yourself!
Great idea...I too have struggled with coffee and chocolate most of my adult life. My answer though is not giving up all of life's treats, but enjoying them in moderation and more wisely. For instance espresso-based coffee drinks, like Americanos, are better tasting for one, and they are less acidic. Now when I have an Americano as a treat it does not bother my stomach as coffee would. As for chocolate, it also used to bother my stomach quite a bit, but I think that was because I ate copious amounts of the lesser quality varieties. Now a couple pieces of organic, free trade, 85% dark chocolate is a wonderful treat, and quite healthy too.
ReplyDeleteIf you are interested in another way of reducing your cravings try about 4 tablespoons of organic local hemp hearts with your breakfast. I put them in homemade yogurt, but they would also be good in cereal or hot oatmeal etc...These are very high in omega fatty acids, are a great source of protein, and have great success with moderating blood sugar levels, hence controlling those nasty 10am sugar cravings!