Coffee - The Legal Performance Enhancing Drug
By: Kellie McKinney
There are so many pros , cons and myths regarding coffee and your health. Let's check out a few:
Coffee is a great source of antioxidants.
Antioxidants protect your cells against free radicals which cause damage and may play a role in diseases such as heart disease and cancer. Fruits and vegetables still take the win for being the richest source of antioxidants, but most of us get the majority from our coffee habit.
Coffee is a diuretic.
Coffee does have a diuretic effect, so if you think you’re making extra trips to the bathroom; it’s not just in your head.
Coffee has a lot of caffeine.
This is true. One cup of coffee contains 100-150 milligrams of caffeine, depending on its strength, which is double to triple the amount in a can of pop. Caffeine is another controversial subject, as too much caffeine can make us jittery, anxious, raise blood pressure and cause sleep problems. Know your body. Don’t overdo it. Stick to drinking coffee in the morning if you notice a disturbance in your sleeping patterns.
Coffee aids in weight loss.
It may be true that coffee boosts metabolism, which increases the burning of calories, it’s more sensible to assess the amount of calories in your drink. Black coffee only contains about 5 calories a cup; the calories I’m talking about are those that come from sugar, flavored syrups, milk and whatever else may go into your drink. You might be surprised to discover that your drink may not be aiding in weight loss at all — and, in fact, may be doing the opposite. Many of the fancy drinks at coffeehouses contain hundreds of calories.
Take control of your coffee drink!
A few small changes to your coffee drink can tremendously benefit your health!!
Drink it black!
If you’re drinking it black, keep doing what you’re doing and feel free to add a little or a lot of heavy cream or butter (yes, coffee and butter!). Your taste buds and waistline will thank you. adding powdered creamers that contain sugar and hydrogenated oils (trans fats), sugary or calorie free syrups and fake whipped cream topping -- all of these drinks, hot or iced, are metabolism and energy depleting. Sugar has an incredibly addicting effect on the brain. No wonder you’re craving more. We need to learn to appreciate coffee for what it is, either black or with a healthy fat of your choice.
Skip the whip.
It’ll save you about 100 calories and 10 grams of unhealthy fat. Don’t fall for the non-fat whip trap that some coffee houses are now offering. It’s filled with chemicals and carbohydrates (to replace the fat).