Coffee - Mixed Review
I have to admit that I love my morning coffee. I’ll drink coffee in just about any form, latte’s, mocha’s, cappuccino’s, you name it, all nonfat of course!
Occasionally, I clean up my diet and eliminate coffee, sugar, white stuff and wine. I usually drop a few pounds when I do this. I drink more water, when I eliminate the coffee, plus I am saving a few calories from latte’s, which creates a calorie deficit.
As a runner, I am interested in improving my performance. I want to run faster. I also want to maintain a healthy body weight, that will make it easier to run.
Is Coffee Good or Bad?
Pros:
Antioxidents - The key is moderation. Some studies have found that small amounts of caffeine may help prevent cancer because of the antioxidants it contains. On the other hand, large amounts can cause heart palpitations and other circulatory problems.
Athletic Performance - Primary among caffeine’s benefits is its effect on free fatty acid metabolism. When frees fatty acids are used for fuel they spare glycogen, glucose and amino acids which would otherwise be metabolized at a faster rate. The net effect of this is increased availability of glucose for use as muscle fuel. In other words, higher blood sugar levels for longer periods of time. This is also why coffee is popular among students. The brain functions exclusively on glucose, and higher blood sugar levels facilitate thinking. The most popular effect of caffeine is not physical, but mental.
This stimulation, in the form of motivation, can be an advantage to an occasionally undermotivated athlete but be careful not to become too hyper before a race or ride. Excess stimulation can impair the ability to ride safely and intelligently.
The amount and type of caffeine consumed are significant determinants of its effectiveness. There are large qualitative differences between coffees, even though the total amount of caffeine might be similar. Better coffees are lower in acid, higher in caffeine and have a longer lasting effect. Ground coffees are generally preferable to canned or instant. Sodas are all basically similar except for taste, Coke and Mt. Dew (and Snapple) being the most popular among cyclists. Diet sodas are a good choice because of their fluid to caffeine ratio, taste, and lack of sugar. Tea is a popular choice among Europeans. Some pros drink a bottle full of Earl Grey and but, don’t drink anything but water off the bike.
Increases metabolism temporarily - Caffeine can HELP you drop small amounts of extra weight with the proper diet and exercise and in proper doses. but always be sure to drink alot of water, because most of the weight at first will be WATER WEIGHT and if you over-do the caffeine you can easily dehydrate yourself. Also remember, while caffeine speeds up you metabolism temporarily, it also can speed up your appetite. but as a whole it can be very helpful to boost energy while dieting and help you lose a few pounds or at least help you get started.
Cons:
Addicted - Caffiene causes a short-term elevation in your metabolism, which gives you a burst of energy. Like any addiction, however, as your body becomes accustomed to caffiene, it begins to compensate. Used over the long term, caffiene actually reduces your metabolism. . . you come to need increasing amounts of caffiene just to stay alert. The slower metabolism actually causes you to gain weight on less food. This makes Diet Coke the perfect product, since it is actually helping to create the problem it’s trying to “cure.”
Increases cortisol levels - It raises Cortisol levels in the body. Cortisol is a hormone that is responsible for fat storage in the body.
Spike in blood sugar - After caffeine begins to wear off your blood sugar plummets. This causes you to crave sugar. In other words you think your hungry when you’re really not. This is obviously counterproductive to your weight loss goal.
Fatigue - After caffeine wears off youare tired. Then you have more caffeine. Then you are tired. Ect… By the end of the day most people who drink coffee are exhausted and they dont know why. This fatigue makes it difficult to exercise which is a one of the most important ways we should be getting our energy.
Pesticides used on coffee crops - Coffee is a heavily sprayed crop, so drinking organic coffee might reduce or eliminate the exposure to toxic herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers.
Like anything else, moderation seems to be the key. I’ve been drinking more green tea lately. I also bought some new organic coffee from Milestone that I like. I continue to drink coffee and not drink coffee in spursts. There are times when I need the boost, especially when I am riding a century, or running a marathon. I don’t like to be addicted and sometimes I fall into that category. That’s when I take a break from it.
Sources:
http://www.mercola.com/2002/aug/17/coffee_tea_stress.htm
What_is_good_or_bad_about_caffeine_when_you_are_trying_to_diet”>http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_good_or_bad_about_caffeine_when_you_are_trying_to_diet
http://www.bicyclesource.com/body/nutrition/caffeine.shtml
Although I got a late start, I’ve been a serious runner since 1994. I ran my first marathon in 1995 on my 30th Birthday. It’s been my goal to run the Boston Marathon since then. I missed qualifying by 12 minutes that year. I needed to run 3:40 and ran 3:52. Running in the most prestigious marathon, is the ultimate for most runners. The fact that you have to qualify, only fueled my competitive juices.
Over the next 9 years I ran 6 more marathons. I love running so much that I became a 
14 comments:
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This is great. Thanks for sharing your information!
I, too, love my coffee. I try to keep it down to one, 1% Mezzo / Yankee Dog (basically an Americano with 1/3 less H20 exchanged with steamed milk) a day in the morning.
In addition to your comments about chemical use on coffee being grown, I would add that drinking shade grown, fair trade coffee is also very important to the environment. For more information, check out the Songbird Foundation website and the Equal Exchange website.
All very interesting stuff about coffee! I used to hate it, but I like the taste now - every once in a while. I’m thankful I don’t ever need anything to get my day started, I’m naturally a morning person!
Oh, and I haven’t got the logbook thing to work. It’ll only post the logbook activity information if I don’t write a short post. If I write a blurb about it, it only posts that. I’ve tried going to post, then editing it afterwards to keep the logbook, but it doesn’t work. Do you post with the logbook, then copy and paste it into your edited blurb of information?
Thanks!
I’ve cut down on my coffee over the last few years, (probably only 2 cups a day now) and generally feel much better for it.
Interesting to see that you lose a little weight when you cut the coffee out. Six years ago, I gave up caffeine, chocolate & alcohol for Lent. I was doing a lot of business driving at the time, and every time I stopped to fill up with petrol, had to walk past the chocolate & caffeinated drinks (coffee, coke, etc) displays on the way to the cashier. As a substitute, I got heavily into flapjacks, reasoning that oat snacks must be good for me. Kinda - except they’re oats stuck together with fat & sugar. Over the six weeks of positively saintly behaviour, I gained 6 pounds, which I only really shed this year!
Coffee is a mixed bag. I think that I have abused it in the past, and felt fatigued and burnt out. I like the feeling of being alert and It works for me before a race.
I am experimenting with having every couple of days instead of every morning. I am trying to get down a few more pounds before I start seriously marathon training. So, I am trying to keep my body pure.
You hit the nail on the head. This is an awesome post. I do the same thing - cut all that stuff out every once in a while. At least I know I can live without it. I love coffee though - and I feel like it does help me. So, I still drink it - and hopefully always will. I love coffee so much - I usually drink it black. Sometimes I enjoy an awesome latte - or a caramel machiatto. Thanks for the info!
You’re welcome!
The first thing I do in the morning is drink a big tall glass of water. The second is make an espresso…full disclosure.
When I work with a client I look at coffee consumption for various reasons…are they using it in place of food (when you couple the appetite suppressant effect wearing off, with the diuretic effect…you get cravings for more stimulant, whether caffeine or sugar). Are they sleeping enough and soundly? Are they anxious, depressed, trouble concentrating, trouble falling asleep, are the extremely stressed (whether they know it or not), do they have behavioral issues…caffeine may be contraindicated because of conditions or diagnosis, or interfere with current medications.
If these are all ruled out, then coffee is fine in moderation. Ahhhh….there is that word again. Caffeine is a safe stimulant with little to no side effects. I recommend that you always consume coffee with food and don’t use it in place of food. Watch the additional calories that come with half & half and sugar and don’t get sucked into the world of artificial sweeteners, like Sweet-n-Low or Equal. Otherwise…drink up.
I have used it as a replacement for food, in the past, during my busy work shedule. Hence, the burnt out feeling. I don’t always have time for a snack between appointments. Plus, I get up at the crack of dawn (4:30 am) to meet with 6 am clients, the caffiene helped me feel more alert.
Since I’ve broken my “addiction”, I’ve been drinking green tea instead and a protein shake with banana. I feel pretty good. Still there are days when I drink it black, but not by itself. I usually have a protein shake or yogurt with granola.
Thank you for your comment. Moderation and balance, keeps coming back!
I’ve seen a few articles re: coffee and health this week, which I think are worth sharing:
Coffee & Colon Cancer study info: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070801/hl_nm/coffee_cancer_japan_dc;_ylt=ArkStlfk81hlgz978iWqy3oDW7oF
Caffeine, exercise may help ward off skin cancer:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070730/sc_nm/cancer_skin_caffeine_dc;_ylt=AnCuTdU01unZCZVPw2dRMsQDW7oF
Very interesting!
I’m in the middle of a Diet Coke withdrawl so I can relate somewhat. I’ve never been a coffee drinker, but I love my diet cokes.
I don’t drink coffee but just because the brain loves, that can only help with running.
Plus we all have our issues. I love donuts and nothing good comes from eating donuts.
I try and think about them being fortified with vitamins and minerals. But in the end I just eat a banana and a bowl of oatmeal to balance it all out.
I have NO shame about being 100% into coffee. I LOVE it and like you, have cut caffeinated coffee out of my diet for close to two years. I just started drinking regular about 2-3 times a week. I have switched to black tea and drink about 2-3 cups a day, admittedly. Interesting topic. Good luck in your decision-making.