Let us talk about caffeine. Is it harmful or not? Is it high blood pressure or enhanced mental awareness? Elevated cancer threat or decreased asthma symptoms and signs? Far more heart illness or increased productivity? How do the harmful results of caffeine stack up against the perceived rewards? This may well appear to step on lots of toes so I am going to incorporate a number of references to scientific publications – these are not my ideas.

I have been hearing quite a few reports in the media recently about the “rewards” of caffeine. Nevertheless, the study and information on the dangers of and the numerous harmful impacts of caffeine are very well documented. Here are some details about the results of caffeine.

Caffeine’s short-term effects happen quite rapidly and endure about 4 hrs. These may include balance troubles, a racing heart, insomnia, fatigue, finger tremor and a sense of nervousness with severity of symptoms and signs connected to the kind of beverage and number of cups consumed.

Over time, as few as 1 cup of coffee each day is most likely to raise blood cholesterol and blood pressure, and cause the heart to race or have extra beats. One to five cups of coffee a day increases the risk of heart attack by 60 % above those who have none, and six or more cups a day increases the risk by 120 %!

“Two cups of coffee may raise blood pressure to levels equal to one cigarette, but it keeps it there for 1-two hrs, vs. just 15 minutes for smoking.” (American Journal of Medicine, 73:348-353, 1982)

Coffee and tea, because of their high levels of tannic and other acids, decrease the uptake of iron. Caffeine also damages the pancreas making diabetes or hypoglycemia significantly worse.

“Coffee increases production of digestive juices while relaxing the esophageal muscles, and as a result contributing to heartburn and diaphragm pain.” (Modern Nutrition in Health and Disease, p 1093)

The list of human miseries and the harmful results of caffeine (high blood pressure being just one) is considerable:

  • fever
  • flushing
  • palpitation
  • insomnia
  • allergies

A lack of caffeine causes many of those addicted to it to have extreme headaches.

Here is something surprising:

“The lethal dose of caffeine is ten g or about 70 cups of normal coffee. A lot of individuals are taking 1/10 of a lethal dose per day!” (Journal of Family Practice 4(6)1183, 1977)

The reason why heavy coffee drinkers are not dropping dead is that their bodies rev up metabolism to work the poison out of their systems so they don’t die from it. And, of course, that is the cause – the elevated metabolism – for some of the supposed health results of caffeine that we are reading about. However, if you run your “engine” at a higher speed it will wear out quicker just as running your auto at high revs will do. You don’t really have extra power (there’s no extra fuel in the tank) you are just running with the pedal to the metal.

And coffee has a damaging synergistic effect in that it increases cravings triggering harmful alcohol and tobacco habits to turn out to be virtually unbreakable. Some have named it “bad-habit glue.”

“A dose of 500-600 mg (5-6 six-ounce cups) of caffeine a day presents a significant health risk.” (British Journal of Addiction 78:251-258, 1988)

Though it is fairly challenging to conquer the habit of consuming caffeinated drinks, it really is worth the work! It will not be too long until you truly feel and function significantly better.

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Cure HBP
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