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I often get asked, ‘So what do you think about coffee, is it bad for me?”

Honestly I don’t think it is bad for you at all, as long as you have it in moderation.

This is one of those products where you need to find your own truth.

Why is Coffee Not So Bad?

Recent research has shown that coffee can increase your physical performance by 5 – 10%.  This is great news for those who want to reach a new level with their workouts.

Other studies have indicated coffee could reduce the risks of diabetes, colon cancer and Parkinson’s disease, and approximately one hour after drinking a cup of coffee your mental alertness will be at its peak.

It is sometimes hard to decipher whether all these benefits are down to the caffeine or the antioxidants present in coffee. I am certainly not condoning any old caffeine here. I am definitely not a fan of energy drinks or cola, just good old fashioned natural coffee, organic if possible.

The Best Way to Have It?

Black with no sugar. A little skim milk is fine but I mean no sugar!!

I understand that coffee is not for everyone, among other things it has been known to give people heart palpations and increased acid reflux.

American Journal of epidemiology advises that drinking a large amount of coffee could raise blood cholesterol in some people. So this is something to be aware of.

What About Decaf?

Decaf is a no go in my opinion. All the chemicals and solvents used to strip the caffeine out of the coffee makes it worse than drinking the caffeine. I would call decaf a ‘processed food’ therefore less desirable.

The Best Time

I advise people to drink coffee late morning. Why – because the high created by coffee can cause a slump in energy around 3pm if consumed too early in the day and you know what this means!! You may be reaching for the sweets in the snack box before I can say “chocolate bar”.

I know myself if I have coffee after 3pm I am up all night, which may not be a bad thing for you if you are a shift worker but not for the average person who wants to get to sleep before midnight.

Also if you need coffee to get out of bed in the morning, this could be a bad sign.

Try instead having filtered water with a slice or two of lemon or lime before breakfast – lovely way to start the day. We are not saying “cut it out” but “cut it down”.

Life would be pretty boring if we had to take all the pleasures of the day and not allow ourselves to have them. Going out for coffee with friends is good social stimulation so enjoy. Moderation is, as always, the key.

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