Is Coffee Really That Bad For You?

The short answer is unfortunately, yes. Let's explore this further.

In principle, I don't have a problem with coffee, after all, if you've watched LIVE TO 100 on Netflix, you would have noticed how most centenarians drink coffee daily.

So, what's up with that?

If coffee is supposedly bad for us, then why is it that people living in the Blue Zones can consume it daily and live such long, healthy lives?

One word. Lifestyle. 

When coffee is consumed as part of a healthy lifestyle, it can be beneficial. Coffee boosts energy, promotes mental alertness, increases physical performance and elevates our mood. Coffee brings people together, it has that scent that people adore, and a taste that many love. It's part of every good conversation that's had in a café. 

Trouble is, here in the western world, we aren't exactly living the same healthy lifestyles that the centenarians are living, are we?

There are many issues that we face that the people in the Blue Zones simply do not. Let's explore those factors.

Are you already inflamed?

Coffee is an acidic compound, and I bet we can all agree with that. It measures between 4.5 and 5 on the pH scale, compared to Matcha that is between 7-8pH and Cacao that is 6-7pH. If you're already inflamed, already too acidic, how is coffee helping this situation? 

Yes, it's true that we do need a balance of acidic and alkaline foods in order to maintain a good pH level but the trouble is, most people are already too acidic, and coffee just makes matters worse.

Many people aren't drinking enough water either, and many people struggle with their diet, have high stress levels, and are guzzling coffee for all the wrong reasons.

The good people of Sardinia don't drink coffee because they are struggling to function, quite the opposite actually. 

Aside from that, they're certainly not drinking highly sprayed, coffee out of aluminium pods brewed with tap water, 2 teaspoons of sugar and processed cows milk. They're living off the land, in some of the most pristine regions of the world. They have access to the finest quality coffee, grown without pesticides and herbicides, with contamination-free water and brewed on the stovetop. See the difference?

There is more than our stress levels that set us apart from our friends in the Blue Zones.

Let's review other differences.

Dehydration

Most people are so dehydrated! It's always concerning to hear how many of my clients drink less than 500mls of water daily. To make matters worse, this water is usually bottled water from a supermarket that contains all sorts of chemicals and microplastics. 

Unfortunately, coffee has a dehydrating effect on our body. For every 1 cup of coffee we need to drink 2 cups of water to combat the dehydrating effects of this 1 cup of coffee. I bet the Okinawans drink lots of water, but sadly there is a good chance you do not. 

Drinking coffee first thing in the morning

Many people get up the morning and the first thing they put in their body is coffee. First thing in the morning your body is desperate to dump all those toxins that have been collected throughout the night. It needs water to do that. You are most acidic first thing in morning until you get that first wee out. By drinking coffee first up, you're putting acid on top of acid. 

High stress levels

Coffee is a stimulant. It activates our brain and our adrenal glands. Trouble is, in a perfect (Blue Zone) world, the stimulation is welcomed. It helps get them up and going with a nice boost of cortisol. 

Trouble is, most of us already have high levels of cortisol especially in the morning when we're drinking the most amount of coffee. If you couple high cortisol with lack of good quality sleep, chances are you're already in fight/flight mode so caffeine is just going to keep you there.

Is it all bad?

No, of course not. If you've read this far thinking I'm a nut job because you love your coffee then stop reading. Who am I to tell you to quit something you love so much?!

All I ask is this.

Do you really love coffee, or what you (desperately) need it to do for you? And how is it making you feel? Are you completely over adrenalized and do you know deep down that coffee is not good for you?

Well then my friend, keep reading. 

You actually and truthfully don't need coffee, and every single person that I have helped get off coffee, restore their vitality the good old fashioned way with excellent nutrition, wonders why the hell they didn't ditch the coffee years ago.

Of course for every study that tells us that one thing is bad for us, there is an equally (well funded) study that tells us the opposite. (Side note: ever wonder who funds these studies and why? It's usually not from the goodness of their heart!)

There have been many studies that have concluded that about 2 cups a day is linked to a lower likelihood of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, liver and endometrial cancers, Parkinson’s disease, and depression. It’s even possible that people who drink coffee can reduce their risk of early death, or so some "experts" claim (however, I'm pretty certain they're not talking about Nescafe with 2 sugars and milk here.)

Obviously there are many factors at play, and there isn't a study on the planet that can prove to me that coffee is good for everyone, not even the biodynamic varieties. We're all so different, and we all respond differently to stimulants like coffee.

So to summarise, coffee itself, when cultivated correctly and ethically and prepared correctly, isn't so bad for you provided you live a balanced lifestyle, drink lots of water, manage your stress levels and don't overdo it. 

The best part of this blog is this, as always you get to decide what is right for you. I always advocate for living by your rules, however, if you do decide to do something that you know isn't supporting good health, well then you need to be prepared to accept the consequences of your actions.

Always sending you lots of love,

Di Hackner