Two Of Our Most Favorite Things
COFFEE & CHOCOLATE
What are the side effects and benefits of coffee?
It is important to recognize that caffeine is an addictive substance. You need to ask yourself, can you go with out coffee and not experience withdrawal symptoms? The least healthy and most additive coffee are at the coffee shops. There are added chemicals to make them smell better, taste better and to make them additive for you to want more.
Potential Side Effects From Coffee Overuse Because of Caffeine
- Diuretic effects deplete Vitamins & Minerals from the body.
- Stimulates acid production in the stomach for more than an hour.
- Increases levels of cholesterol & Triglycerides which causes risk of cardiovascular disease.
- Stimulates the Central Nervous System which can cause nervousness, irritability, insomnia, restless legs, headaches and fatigue.
- Weakens the adrenals, which can cause adrenal exhaustion, stress, fatigue, and hypoglycemia.
- Increases chances of bladder, prostrate, ovarian, stomach and pancreatic cancer.
- Can cause kidney stones and fibrocystic breast.
- Benefits of Organic Coffee
- Organic coffee is not treated with pesticides and chemical fertilizers.
- Added health benefits because the soil it is grown in has good natural nutrients which add to the nutrient value of the coffee beans.
- Dark coffee beans are a natural antioxidant.
Even knowing the health concerns there are people who won’t want to give up their coffee because they are already addicted to it. However, it is nice there are healthier options to choose if you are concerned for your health. Making your own organic coffee is better for you that coffee shop coffee. All coffee has caffeine however if you decide to get decaf you may lose the effects of the caffeine but it is decaffeinated through chemicals which make it just as harmful for you body. So if you want to get away from the caffeine choose decaffeinated organic coffee through natural water process, Then of course the best choice when drinking coffee is moderation which would be 1-2 cups a day .
Milk Chocolate vs dark Chocolate
Chocolate is made from the seed of a Cocoa Tree and it is one of the best antioxidants. Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate both have the cocoa but milk chocolate has more sugar with milk and less of the cocoa. When dark chocolate is 70-85% cocoa it has a decent amount of fibre and loaded with minerals.
Dark Chocolate still has a small amount of sugar but organic dark chocolate is better for you because the sugar is unprocessed cane sugar which is lower on the Glycemic Index. The amount of caffeine in dark chocolate is very low compared to coffee. It should still also be consumed in moderation because of the sugar.
I’m not a coffee drinker but I do make it a point to have a small amount of dark chocolate every day. Written by Mary Brickell, Personal Health Coach, Healthy By Choice Clinic
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