10 Reasons To Stop Drinking Coffee

(OrganicJar) Stop drinking coffee? Have you gone mad? If you’re part of the 64% of the US population who drinks coffee everyday it might be a good idea to know the negative side of this deliciously addictive liquid. Coffee or should I say the caffeine within coffee is a psychotropic drug which alters our brain chemistry. That caffeine high comes with a steep price tag – your health.

I’m not going to lie and say I never drink a cup of coffee (you can read more of my personal thoughts at the end) and I’m not telling you to eliminate caffeine entirely from your diet. But the less caffeine you consume, the better off you are especially if you’re not currently healthy.

10 Reasons To Stop Drinking Coffee:

1. Caffeine Depletes Feel-Good Neurotransmitters

   It damages our ability to produce feel-good brain chemicals, or neurotransmitters. Have you heard of serotonin? It’s the brain chemical most of us don’t get enough of. It’s the reason so many of people are taking antidepressants. Caffeine actually depletes serotonin. Simple Truth: Coffee is a cheap high that robs us of the building blocks for good chemistry.




2. Caffeine Hurts Our Adrenal Glands

   The adrenals are considered the storage center for the vital force, your inherited reservoir of energy. It helps produce brain chemicals that make you fell energetic, focused and ready to work. Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant and causes the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline – the hormone your body depends on in emergencies – but caffeine exhausts your adrenals. If your caffeine sensitivity has diminished or you’re one of those who claims you can drink 3 shots of espresso and go right to sleep, guess what? Your adrenals have given up responding. This leaves you vulnerable to many health hazards. Adrenal fatigue is one of the fastest growing problems. (I’ll be writing more about this soon.)

3. Caffeine Lowers Your Sex Drive

   When our adrenal glands are exhausted, they can’t produce sufficient sex hormones. For one, testosterone. (Even women produce testosterone, although not as much as men.) Low testosterone = low sex drive.

4. Caffeine Hurts Fertility

   Women need adequate progesterone in order to get pregnant and carry a pregnancy to term. Progesterone means “for gestation.” Stress requires that we use more and more cortisol. When our adrenal glands are burned out, we can’t make enough cortisol. So our body will steal as much progesterone as it needs to make cortisol.

5. Caffeine Causes Insomnia

   I think we all know how vital it is to get relaxing sleep at night. Caffeine reduces your sleep and research shows that people who consume more than 2-3 cups (an actual measuring cup, not your giant mug) per day have poor sleep quality.




6. Caffeine Causes Malnutrition

   Caffeine inhibits the absorption of thiamin, B vitamins, calcium, minerals, sodium, chloride, potassium, magnesium, and zinc. All of which are essential for good health. “Coffee and tea consumption at the time of a meal can significantly decrease iron absorption. Tea can cause iron absorption to drop by 60 percent and coffee can cause a 50 percent decrease in iron uptake.” (Source)

7. Caffeine Suppresses Our Immune Function

   In all, more than 150 hormones are produced by the adrenals or metabolized from adrenal hormones. One group, known as glucocorticoids (including cortisol), act as a brake on the immune system. Scientists have recently learned that excess glucocorticoid production (caused by stress and caffeine) can profoundly suppress immunity.

8. Caffeine Makes You Fat

   Our thyroid gland controls our metabolism. Low thyroid function = slow metabolism and weight gain. Caffeine stresses the adrenal glands. Our thyroid gland works in tandem with our adrenals. We need healthy adrenals for the thyroid to work properly. So if you’re stressing out your adrenal glands with coffee, you’re slowing down your metabolism.

9. Caffeine Could Damage Your Liver

   Caffeine is broken down by the liver through the use of enzymes. The more these enzymes are involved in breaking down caffeine, the less available they are for breaking down other chemicals in the bloodstream. Excessive caffeine use, therefore, causes the liver to work less efficiently at its job of detoxifying the body.

10. Coffee is the Most Pesticide Laden Food on the Planet

    Coffee is the most chemically treated food crop on the planet. Period. It is heavily sprayed with pesticides and grown with chemical fertilizers. Many of which even kill the workers. Over 1,000 chemicals have been found in roasted coffee. 19 of these chemicals are known carcinogens (known to cause cancer). Decaf coffee is even worse because chemical solvents are used to extract the caffeine. 

MY THOUGHTS:

I was one of those individuals who drank coffee all day long and even through the night. However it became to taxing on my body and I noticed the signs. I would “need” that cup of coffee to even function, my skin was extremely dry, I had acne, and the worst was coming off that caffeine high. It was a vicious cycle that became to much. So I switched to tea and herbal infusions and slowly kicked my caffeine addiction and wouldn’t you know it, my urge for it left, my dry skin and acne disappeared and I felt a consistent energy throughout the day. I still enjoy a nice cup of “organic” coffee now and then but like all drugs I function better without – something I didn’t realize or think was possible until I overcame my caffeine addition.

The take away message is this. If your healthy, fit, happy then keep drinking that coffee, but if your not I would highly suggest you start by cutting out all the caffeine in your life and yes, that includes green and black teas as well as chocolate [I hear screams]. Keep in mind this isn’t forever, just until you get back to feeling happy and healthy. – Jason

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Image: nourishedkitchen.comRelated Articles:

• Tea and Coffee Reduce Uterine Cancer Risk
• Top 10 Cholesterol Lowering Foods
• Top 10 Reasons Coconut Oil is a Miracle of Nature!
• The Miracle That Is Green Tea
• The Superfood that is Rooibos Tea

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The Incredible Health Benefits of Krill Oil

There’s been an overwhelming amount of research published over the last few years about a supplement called Krill Oil. I had never even heard of it until about 6 months ago when I was Googling ways I could naturally lower my cholesterol and improve a bit of mental fog I was experiencing. After spending what seemed like too many nights reading scientific journals about it on PubMed I decided to just give it a try. It’s been 4 months now and I’m extremely surprised at how effective it’s been (more about that at the end of the article). But first, what are Krill?

Krill are little crustaceans that look like shrimp and provide food for everything from salmon to blue whales and are one of the most nutritious creatures in the sea. Not only are they loaded with a powerful antioxidant called astaxanthin, but they’re a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which for years research has shown to help lower an individual’s risk for heart attack, stroke, certain cancers, depression and overall inflammation. The oil is naturally found in a species of krill called the Euphausia Superba and is extracted and sold as a nutritional supplement.

There has been a lot of research showing krill oil to be superior to fish oil in head-to-head testing. It has found to be healthier, safer, more potent and especially more absorbable.

Krill Oil vs Fish Oil

The reason krill oil is more effective than other marine oils is the amount of omega-3 fatty acids, phospholipids and extremely potent antioxidants. It’s the unique combination of these essential ingredients that provide the greatest health benefits.

Krill oil, like fish oil, contains both of the omega-3 fats eicosapentanoic acid (EPA) and docosahexanoic acid (DHA), but hooked together in a different form. In fish oil these omega-3 fatty acids are found in the triglyceride form whereas in krill oil they are hooked up in a double chain phospholipid structure (The fats in our own cell walls are in this phospholipid form). Attached to the EPA leg of the phospholipid is a molecule of astaxanthin, an extremely potent antioxidant. The phospholipid structure of the EPA and DHA in krill oil makes them much more absorbable and allows for a much easier entrance into the mitochondria and the cellular nucleus – especially a better absorption and delivery of DHA to the brain. In addition to EPA and DHA krill oil contains a complex phospholipid profile including phosphatidylcholine, a potent source of reductive-stress-reducing choline. Research indicates that phospholipid omega-3 fatty acids (found in krill oil) have greater bioavailability for cell growth and functioning, compared with omega-3 triglycerides (found in fish oil).

Here are 10 Reasons to take Krill Oil:

1. Powerful Antioxidant

   Krill oil contains vitamin E, vitamin A, vitamin D and astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant. When compared to fish oil in terms of ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) values it was found to be 48 times more potent than fish oil. Antioxidants are important as they protect our cells from damage from free radicals – unstable substances that contribute to certain chronic diseases. Unlike many other antioxidants, krill’s astaxanthin crosses the blood-brain barrier where it can protect the eye, brain and central nervous system from free radical damage.

2. Protects Your Heart

   Results from a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition reported that krill oil can significantly reduce heart-damaging inflammation. The study was conducted by measuring the presence of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) levels in the blood. One way to measure the risk of heart damage is to examine the amount of the body’s CRP levels. The group that had been taking 300 mg of krill oil daily reduced their CRP levels by 19.3% after seven days and 29.7% after 14 days.

3. Reduces Inflammation and Arthritis Pain

   Low levels of omega 3 in the body lead to inflammation, which further leads to other diseases. Krill oil has several anti-inflammatory properties. That means that a regular dose of krill oil can reduce general joint pains, back pain, swelling and inflammatory arthritis. There have also been a number of studies conducted that found that krill oil was effective in reliving some of the symptoms and effects of osteoporosis.

   The results of a study published in the American Journal of Nutrition highlighted the effects of krill oil on chronic inflammation and arthritic symptoms. The study was conducted by Western University in collaboration with McMaster University. Participants included 90 patients who were diagnosed with inflammatory conditions such as cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis and / or osteoarthritis. Findings revealed that krill oil reduced pain by 28.9%, stiffness by 20.3% and functional impairment by 22.8%. Moreover, results indicated that krill oil ”significantly inhibits inflammation and reduces arthritic symptoms within a short treatment period of 7 and 14 days.”

4. Improves Brain Function and Development

   The important nutrients choline and omega fatty acids in krill oil are helpful in enhancing normal brain functioning and improving memory, cognition and behavior. A study at the University of California, Berkley, suggests that low levels of Omega-3s, particularly DHA and EPA may contribute to cognitive decline. Findings indicate that regular consumption of Omega-3s, especially sources rich in EPA and DHA (such as krill oil), can considerably improve cognitive function. Moreover, a study of 30 adults with attention difficulties showed 46% improvement in mental concentration and 48.9 % mental focus after 90 days of taking krill oil supplements. Furthermore, krill oil contains the powerful antioxidant astaxanthin, which has the rare ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and rid the body of free radicals that can lead to cognitive impairment.

5. Regulates LDL (Bad) and HDL (Good) Cholesterol

   This is actually a very difficult thing to do and not many substances can do it. A number of studies have shown that krill oil is tremendously effective in reducing LDL cholesterol, raising HDL cholesterol, and lowering blood sugar. Studies have shown where fish oil reduced the “LDL” or the bad cholesterol by only 4.6%, krill oil reduced the LDL by 34%. Alternatively, it increased the HDL or good cholesterol by 43.5% in comparison to the fish oil, which showed improvement in HDL by 4.2%.

1. Improves Skin Health

   Krill oil contains nutrients that can help reduce acne outbreaks, lessen the symptoms of psoriasis, especially the redness and itching and make skin feel softer and more hydrated. Oral and topical use of Krill oil has also been shown to be a skin cancer prophylactic (a medicine used to prevent disease) because it contains retinol and astaxanthin which are known for their anti-carcinogenic effect. The astaxanthin found in krill oil also provides excellent protection against ultraviolet light and UV-induced skin damage.

2. Improves Immune System

   Numerous studies prove that krill oil’s benefits can improve your overall health by strengthening your immune system, optimizing kidney function, regulating the body’s hormone levels, elevating your mood and emotional well-being, balancing blood sugar levels, regulating blood pressure levels, supporting eye health and boosting your energy.

3. Improves Mental Health

   The right amount of krill oil can be helpful in improving mental health of people suffering from depression, mood swings, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and bipolar disorder. It can also help lessen the effects of stress, something that affects so many people.

4. Alleviates Premenstrual Symptoms (PMS)

   Numerous studies have been able to link a lack of Omega-3 acids in the body with the severity of PMS symptoms in women. These studies found the introduction of a krill oil supplement to not only be effective in reliving physical problems like bloating but helpful with the emotional ones as well. 73% of women showed a clinically significant reduction in both emotional and physical distress prior to menstruation. They were taking 1-4 grams per day 7 to 10 days prior to menstruation.

5. Anti-Aging Properties

   The antioxidants present in krill oil have been found to be effective in fighting the effects of free radicals in the body. This can lead to improved skin texture and a reduction in wrinkles, stronger nails and healthier, thicker hair. Numerous ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) tests have proven that krill oil effectively repairs aging cells when compared to other antioxidants. In fact, independent labs confirmed that krill oil contains an ORAC value of 430 while fish oil has an ORAC value of 8. This means krill oil has over 48 times more antioxidant power than fish oil.

Cautions On Krill Oil

If you are allergic to shrimp you should not take krill oil supplements since you could also get an allergic reaction to it. If this is you, then you should stick to fish oil supplements. Plus if you are on blood thinners, you should consult your doctor before taking any fish or krill supplements.

My Thoughts:

After taking the supplements for several months I noticed my mental fog was gone, my ability to focus had improved, my hair was softer (wasn’t expecting that), I felt happier, and the whites of my eyes were whiter (wasn’t expecting that either). I’m having my cholesterol tested next month so I’ll let you know those results when I get them.

Some of you might be wondering which brand of krill oil I take. Before I tell you I want to make it clear that this is not a commercial endorsement and I am not being paid by this company. This is my own independent recommendation from my own research. That said, I have been using NKO Neptune Krill Oil Gold by Nutrigold. Here is a link to the exact product and place I buy it on Amazon: NKO Neptune Krill Oil Gold. I take 500mg in the morning and 500mg in the afternoon.

I have several friends as well as my mother who just started taking Krill Oil and I’ll be monitoring them over the next several months so make sure to sign-up for my newsletter so you can follow along. Cheers! – Steve

Keep in touch with me on Twitter or Facebook

Sources: Journal Articles From: PubMed.gov

Institute of Food Science and Human Nutrition 2011: fish oil vs. krill oil

Evaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the clinical course of hyperlipidemia

Evaluation of the effect of Neptune Krill Oil on chronic inflammation and arthritic symptoms

Supplementation of diet with krill oil protects against experimental rheumatoid arthritis

Evaluation of the effects of Neptune Krill Oil on the management of premenstrual syndrome and dysmenorrhea.

Strawberries As A Home Remedy

Many foods are valuable sources of antioxidants. But researchers have recently ranked the 50 best antioxidant sources among commonly eaten foods and found strawberries to be quite exceptional.

When total antioxidant capacity was measured, strawberries ranked 27th best among U.S. foods. In addition, when only fruits were considered, strawberries came out 4th among all fruits (behind blackberries, cranberries, and raspberries).

Since many foods (for example, spices and seasonings) are seldom consumed in amounts as large as 3.5 ounces, researchers also looked at common serving sizes for all foods and their total antioxidant capacity.

In this evaluation, strawberries came out 3rd among all U.S. foods including spices, seasonings, fruits, and vegetables!

Only blackberries and walnuts scored higher in total antioxidant capacity.

Research has shown strawberries to be a surprisingly fragile, perishable, and delicate fruit.

Food scientists recently took a close look at storage time, storage temperature, storage humidity, and degree of strawberry ripeness and found significant differences between different types of strawberry storage. On average, studies show 2 days as the maximal time for strawberry storage without major loss of vitamin C and polyphenol antioxidants.

It’s not that strawberries become dangerous to eat or invaluable after 2 days. It’s just that more storage time brings along with it substantially more nutrient loss.

In terms of humidity, 90-95% has been shown optimal. Most refrigerators will average a much lower humidity (between 80-90%).

Because air circulation inside the fridge can lower humidity, you may want to give your strawberries more storage humidity by putting them in your refrigerator’s cold storage bins.

If your fridge does not have storage bins, you can use a sealed container for refrigerator storage of your strawberries.

Optimal temperature for strawberry storage over a 2-day period has been found to be relatively cold, (36F) (2C).

Public health organizations only recommend refrigerator temperatures of 40F (4.4C) as the maximum safe level for food storage. But, if you are storing sizable amounts of fruits and vegetables, including strawberries in your refrigerator, you may want to set your refrigerator to a lower than maximum temperature setting in the range of 36-38F (2-3C).

In terms of ripeness, recent studies have found that both under ripeness and over ripeness can have an unexpectedly large impact on the phytonutrient content of strawberries, especially their antioxidant polyphenols.

Fortunately, optimal strawberry ripeness can be judged by color. Consume your strawberries when their pinkish red color is most vibrant.

Improved blood sugar regulation has been a long-standing area of interest in research on strawberries and health.

However, scientists have recently discovered a fascinating relationship between intake of strawberries, table sugar, and blood sugar levels. You might not expect this blood sugar spike to be reduced by simultaneous consumption of strawberries! Yet that’s exactly what researchers have discovered.

With the equivalent of approximately one cup of fresh strawberries (approximately 150 grams), blood sugar elevations from simple sugar intake can be reduced. Researchers have speculated that polyphenols in strawberries play a major role in helping regulate blood sugar response.

This finding is great news for healthy persons wanting to maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and also for persons with type 2 diabetes who enjoy fresh strawberries and want to enjoy them on a regular basis.

Given their amazing combination of phytonutrients, including anthocyanins, ellagitannins, flavonols, terpenoids, and phenolic acids, it’s not surprising to find increasing research interest in the anti-inflammatory properties of strawberries.

It’s exciting to see this remarkable fruit lowering level of inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein (CRP) when consumed several days per week, in everyday amounts of approximately one cup.

Research has now shown that several blood markers for chronic, unwanted inflammation, can be improved by regular intake of strawberries.

One study showed, consumption of strawberries did not display anti-inflammatory benefits until strawberries were consumed at least 3 times per week.

This research is why we recommend inclusion of berries at least 3-4 times per week in your overall fruit consumption.