The pitfalls of Caffeine

Caffeine is highly-addictive and found in other foods besides just a large Starbucks to go!  Caffeine is added to sodas, both diet and regular. It is a common additive to diet pills, caffeine is found in teas and chocolates and even aspirin.

My doctor told me last year to stop drinking so much coffee (8 cups a day-8 large cups- 4 of these specialty coffees). He told me to switch to drinking de-caffeinated and start drinking water. I found that every time I drank a glass of water, I was still thirsty! When I asked him why- he told me that my body was sending me a signal. That signal- “Send more water!” He suggested I stop drinking ice water, and switch to warm water. Not to sip the water, but actually drink it down fairly fast. I took his advice and my thirst was quenched.

Caffeine has no calories, but that doesn’t matter because caffeine activates the adrenal system (where the glucose and blood sugar is stored in the liver) and releases those sugars, dumping them into the body. The cells can only retain so much glucose; the extra sugars are stored in fat held for reserve. Add to that the amount of sugar or artificial sweetener that you might dump into each cup, and you have a recipe for disaster.