FACTS about COFFEE and Cafeine

From the book "Change Your Brain Change Your Body"  by  Dr. Amen

6. Limit caffeine intake.

Most of us associate caffeine with coffee, but it can also be found in tea, dark sodas, chocolate, energy drinks, and pep pills. If your caffeine intake is limited to one or two normal-size cups of coffee or two or three cups of tea a day, it probably is not a problem. But any more than that can cause problems.

  Caffeine restricts blood flow to the brain, and anything that

compromises blood flow leads to premature aging.

  Caffeine dehydrates the brain (remember, your brain is 80 percent water

and needs adequate hydration), which makes it harder to think quickly.

  Caffeine interferes with sleep, which is essential for good brain health,

appetite control, and skin rejuvenation. Caffeine disrupts sleep patterns

because it blocks adenosine, a chemical that tells us when it is time to hit the

hay. When this chemical is blocked, we tend to sleep less, which leads to sleep deprivation. And when we aren't getting enough sleep, we feel like we

absolutely must have that cup of joe in the morning in order to jump-start

our day.

Caffeine can be addictive in high amounts. When you try to kick the

habit, you are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms, including severe

headaches, fatigue, and irritability.

Caffeine can accelerate heart and raise blood pressure. In some

people, drinking too much caffeine leads to a temporary spike in blood pressure and a racing heart.

Caffeine can give you the jitters. Ingesting more caffeine than you normally do can leave you feeling jittery and nervous.

  Caffeine increases muscle tension. Tight muscles have been linked to caffeine intake. 

Caffeine can cause an upset stomach. Gastrointestinal troubles are common with excessive caffeine use.

Caffeine can elevate inflammatory markers. Two studies showed that 200 mg of caffeine (equivalent to two cups of coffee) raised homocysteine levels, a marker for inflammation and heart disease.

Caffeine can interfere with fertility. Pregnant women should be careful with caffeine because it has been associated with premature births, birth defects, inability to conceive, low birth weight, and miscarriage.

To be fair, there are also a number of studies suggesting that coffee can be helpful for you. It has been shown to decrease the plaques that cause Alzheimer's disease, lower the risk for Parkinson's disease, and lower the risk of colon cancer and diabetes. It maybe other substances in the coffee, not just the caffeine, that are actually helpful, and decaffeinated varieties may give you the benefits without the troubles noted above. A Harvard University study found that those drinking decaf coffee also showed a reduced diabetes risk, though it was half as much as drinking caffeinated coffee. Another study, however, found that caffeine reduced insulin sensitivity and raised blood sugar—both bad news for you. One question you should ask yourself whenever you read a scientific study promoting the benefits of certain medications, alcohol, or caffeine is, Who funded the research? One of the university departments that advocate for coffee use is funded, in part, by Kraft Foods, the makers of Maxwell House coffee.

THE BEST ANTIOXIDANT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Acai berries

Blueberries

Blackberries

Cranberries

Strawberries

Spinach

Raspberries

Brussels sprouts

Plums

Broccoli

Beets

Avocados

Oranges

Red grapes

Red bell peppers

Cherries

Kiwis

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

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