CAFFEINE FACTS

Caffeine contributes to palpitations, panic attacks, hypoglycemia, gastritis, fatigue, insomnia, PMS

Caffeine Myths:

Caffeine gives you energy. Wrong! Caffeine increases blood levels of stress hormones (chemical stimulation). The body’s struggle to adapt is perceived as energy.

Caffeine gives you a lift. Wrong! Initial adrenal stimulation is perceived as a lift, but this “lift” is followed by a letdown that may be subtle, but over time becomes profound.

Caffeine sharpens your mind. Wrong! Increased sensory and motor activity (dilated pupils, increased heart rate and higher blood pressure) may make the user feel more alert, however, the quality of thought and recall is improved no more than the quality of music is improved when played at a higher volume or speed.

The International Life Sciences Institute, which merged with the Nutrition Foundation in 1985 includes among its trustees executives from the Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, Hershey Foods, NutraSweet, and Procter & Gamble. In effect they are funded by the caffeine industry (see above). That may explain the many pro-caffeine articles we see.

About 1% of caffeine is excreted, the other 99% must be detoxified by the liver, a slow difficult process that may take up to 12 hours.

It can take up to three weeks for the bodies stress hormones to return to normal once caffeine is eliminated from the diet.

Caffeine withdrawal often produces the following symptoms: Headaches, depression, fatigue, irritability, disorientation, increased muscle tension, nausea, vomiting.

Caffeine can cause long-term damage to your adrenals, blood vessels (constriction that can cause cold fingers), breasts, brain (oxygen deprivation), GI tract (bloating, pain and gas), immune system (increased glucocorticoids from the adrenals suppress immunity), and bones; damage you may not recognize immediately.

Caffeine contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH’s), the cancer causing agent isolated from smoked barbecued meats.

Hundreds of legal over the counter and prescription drugs contain caffeine and also interfere with the livers ability to detoxify caffeine.

Caffeine blocks important neurological receptors that control functions of the brain, kidneys, GI tract, cardiovascular system and respiratory system. The result is that messages do not get through and then your nervous system circuits fire over and over and over creating a sense of alertness when in fact the brain is merely confused. The confusion results in the adrenal hormones cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine being elevated as much as 200%. The result is increased heart rate and blood pressure and sometimes a classic “fight or flight response.

Cortisol, when elevated consistently over long periods of time, causes diminished sleep quality and immune system function, accelerates aging and gradually changes mind, mood and behavior.

DHEA is a hormone produced by the adrenal glands that provides us with vitality, as its production decreases the rate of aging increases. Elevated cortisol levels cause DHEA levels to fall leading to premature aging.

GABA is a neurotransmitter that helps us filter information, strategize sensibly, and calms the mind without putting it to sleep. Caffeine inhibits the production of GABA leading to increased stress a factor in ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome among other disorders.

Birth control pills interfere with the liver’s ability to detoxify caffeine allowing the caffeine to stay in the system longer and interfere with sleep up to 12 hours after the last cup of coffee

Caffeine and many other drugs interfere with the dream phase and deep phase of sleep. Both are crucial to awakening well rested and regenerated at the cellular level.

Caffeine and other ingredients found in coffee and tea cause increased loss of B-vitamins, calcium and other minerals in the urine

Melatonin, produced by the pineal gland in the brain and by cells in the gut, is a powerful antioxidant that also regulates the body’s sleep/wake cycle. It is suppressed by caffeine.

The following is list of well-defined abnormalities in physiology and brain biochemistry in people who suffer from anxiety or panic attacks and/or depression:

• Overproduction of adrenal stress hormones, including norepinephrine and cortisol.
• Increased evidence of mitral valve prolapse.
• Decreased nighttime melatonin production.
• Dysfunction of the GABA metabolism.
• Increased neuron firing in the brain.
• Decreased blood circulation to the brain.
• Alteration of serotonin levels in the brain.
• Strong association with life stress.

2004