Coffee

Some say coffee will kill you.

Others say it will lengthen your life.

As with all things, context is what matters.

In this newsletter, I will explain the benefits of coffee and the nuance behind it, so you can understand how to consume it best way to consume it for your personal goals.

Is Coffee Healthy?

People have been drinking coffee for thousands of years, and it comes with plenty of research-backed benefits:

• Coffee drinkers have a lower incidence of thyroid disease, including cancer, than non-drinkers (study)

• Caffeine protects the liver from alcohol and other toxins (study)

• Caffeine protects against cancer caused by radiation and chemical carcinogens (study 1 & study 2)

• Coffee removes heavy metals from water (study)

• Coffee can prevent iron overload (study)

• Coffee/caffeine prevents Parkinson’s Disease (study).

• Caffeine stops the production of free radicals (study)

Not only that, but coffee is rich in magnesium, vitamin B1, and most importantly polyphenols.

Polyphenols are plant-based micronutrients that help build tissue, prevent cancer, and protect against cardiovascular disease.

These compounds give plants the strength to adapt to environmental stressors like wind and weather changes. When we consume them, we get similar benefits.

Why Coffee Makes You Feel Terrible

Many people say drinking coffee makes them feel jittery and dehydrated.

This is not because of the coffee itself—but the mold and glyphosate that nearly all coffee is contaminated with.

When you consume these things, your body flushes out the water from your cells to get rid of them—making you dehydrated, anxious, and jittery.

To avoid this, purchase organic and mold-free coffee from a trusted source (Kion is a good option).

If you buy coffee in the morning, avoid getting it from large chains.

They literally burn their beans to keep the flavor consistent.

This makes the coffee bitter and carcinogenic (ever wonder why Starbucks always tastes so bad?)

Instead, go to a cafe that uses organic beans from a good source.

With Milk and Sugar… or Without?

There’s a huge debate about whether or not you should add milk and sugar to your coffee.

What makes one option better than the other depends on your personal circumstances.

Here’s what you need to know:

Black coffee will give you more polyphenols than coffee with milk and sugar. Dairy binds to polyphenols, which decreases their bioavailability.

Black coffee can also be easier on the gut if you cannot tolerate dairy.

That being said, if you have sensitive adrenals, black coffee isn’t the best thing.

Drinking black coffee on an empty stomach can make your blood sugar fall, leading to a spike in cortisol and adrenaline.

Adding milk will slow the absorption of caffeine and simple carbs will prevent your blood sugar from dropping.

I know this may seem contradictory, so as a general rule of thumb…

Consume black coffee if you have a sensitive gut, cannot tolerate dairy, or fast regularly.

Consider adding milk or sugar (raw honey or maple syrup are best) if you have sensitive adrenals or are sensitive to stimulants.

Either way, be a scientist. Experiment. Try coffee black, with milk, with breakfast, and without.

You will learn more by experimenting than by taking other people’s advice.

Whether you’re drinking your coffee black or with milk, coffee in the morning can be a powerful tool for improving your health.

Problems occur when you rely on it to stay alive (you’ll push your body into adrenal fatigue), drink dirty coffee filled with toxins, or drink it late in the day.

So avoid the bad stuff, do some experiments, and find out what your body prefers.

Until next time,

Kashif Khan

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Information on this site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not meant to substitute for medical advice from your physician or other medical professional. You should not use the information contained herein for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem, promptly contact your regular health care provider.