Coffee Cravings

Persons with ulcers or heart problems should probably limit their consumption of coffee, since it boosts stomach acid, temporarily raises the blood pressure, and increases the risk of a heart attack. It also, reportedly, decreases a woman's chances of getting pregnant. Reid's article reports that "people who consume caffeine have higher rates of kidney and bladder cancer, fibrocystic breast disease, pancreatic cancer, and osteoporosis." Jethro Kloss of Back to Eden fame claimed coffee "weakens the heart muscle. . .hinders digestion, is a cause of constipation, and poisons the body."

I am one of those peculiar people who never learned to drink either coffee or tea. That is probably just as well, since I tend to be quite sensitive to stimulants. So I get my weaker dose of caffeine from the "other bean" (chocolate), though I've learned to avoid any late-night consumption even of it.

As for those of you addicted to your java, most of the experts recommend that you consume no more than two cups a day. Maybe you can replace your afternoon coffee break with a proper British tea. It delivers a milder kick of caffeine plus some very nice antioxidants. If, like me, you find regular tea a bit bland, you can always throw in a few--also healthy--spices to make chai.

As with any herb, moderation seems to be the key word here. Too much of anything, we are always adjured, can be bad for you. So it's always a good idea to vary your diet as much as possible. Not only is that healthier, it's loads more fun!

Note: First image is coutesy of the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine at http://wolf.mind.net/SWSBM/HOMEPAGE/Home... Photos are courtesy of stock.xchng at http://www.sxc.hu . Photo of green coffee beans is by Ana Labate, photo of coffee cup is by Rene Cerney, photo of brown coffee beans is by Niki Michailov.

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