My Love/Hate Relationship with Coffee

It’s Monday morning and I’ve dragged myself out of bed and into work. It’s a beautiful autumn morning, but I would love nothing more than to crawl back into bed and sleep a few more hours. Yes, even I, a self proclaimed morning person wants to sleep the morning away every once and a while. So what now, you ask? I do what any self-respecting New York resident would do; I stand in line at Starbucks and order my latte (I prefer soy, and yes, they use organic ;)

See the thing is I’ve quit coffee. It’s been about 3 or 4 years since I could call myself a regular coffee drinker. It was honestly one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. For me the constant headaches and extreme sluggishness without caffeine was almost unbearable. It took me 3 tries over a year and a half to completely give up the habit. So when I slip and start sipping again, I feel incredibly guilty; like I’m letting myself down.  Sure there are worse habits: smoking, drinking, meth. But it was messing with my quality of life and my health. In that respect, it’s not any different than any other addiction. 

Coffee is scrumptious, at least when made well. But even with it's beneficial effects, it may not be suitable for everyone. Everyone's body is built differently and we have to be aware of what works for each of us. Allow me to explain a little more why I personally wanted out of that relationship:

•          My stomach hurt. It doesn’t hurt all the time, but depending on the type of coffee I drink, I will end up with a pretty bad case of sour stomach or even reflux. I have less of a problem with espresso and lattes. The extra milk (in my case soy) in a latte helps protect my stomach from the caffeine. Espresso is absorbs differently than traditional drip coffee, and it isn’t as aggressive on the GI.

•          I realized one day I was spending on average $3 to $8 a day on my caffeine habit. That’s more than $150 a month! Put your calculator away, I’ll do the math… that’s $1,800 a year! In case you were wondering, no I can’t make my own coffee. Of all the life skills and talents I’ve been blessed with, making coffee is not one of them.

•          I never realized how much better I sleep when I’m not hopped up on caffeine. I always thought I slept OK, but once I gave up the coffee all together, the quality of my sleep improved markedly. So apparently, my body doesn’t handle caffeine very well. It takes a while for the effects to clear my system, and therefore I can’t get into a really deep sleep even if my last cup was hours before bedtime.

•          I really don’t need the extra empty calories and sugar. When I finally cut sugar out of my diet 3 years ago, my coffee was a huge part of the problem. Even cutting out the sugary frozen coffee concoctions, I still was taking in a significant amount of extra sugar in the form of sweetener, milk and creamer. In fact I’ve found coffee to be a vehicle for other less-than-ideal ingredients, not just refined sugar, but also traditionally farmed dairy (more about that below) and GMO soy milk.

Now, all that being said, I’m not going to tell you one way or another if you should stop drinking coffee. But I will make some suggestions that will hopefully make your experience more healthy and green:

•          If you find that coffee is aggravating your stomach, cut back, or switch to espresso. Also, you might want to examine if you’re possibly allergic to dairy.

•          Keep an eye on what you put in your coffee. Try to cut back on the amount of sugar you use, and eliminate artificial sweeteners. And those frapa-latta-chino sugar bombs, stay away from them.

•          As much as possible, frequent coffee shops that use organic cow and soy milk. “Regular” dairy cows are often injected with hormones and fed an inappropriate diet in order to stimulate milk production. These hormones enter our bodies and have been linked to various illnesses including cancer. Organic milk will usually bear the marking “from cows not injected with rBh.” Soy products, non-organic ones, are produced from GMO soy beans. Check the “No Mo GMO" article for more on that.

•          Buy organic coffee. Traditionally farmer coffee is one of the most contaminated crops produced due to the high absorption of pesticides sprayed.

•          When purchasing coffee, look for the “Fair Trade”symbol. Coffee farmers are often cheated out of a fair compensation for their crops by the mega-corporations, causing them to have a hard time making ends meet. The “Fair Trade” agreement ensures those farmers are being compensated at a rate that is appropriate.

There’s no clear line on the topic of whether coffee is good or bad for you. There are many studies touting the benefits of caffeine (such as reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s) as well as others for the negative effects. If you crave caffeine, you might want to consider trying tea as an alternative to coffee. It's less caustic to the GI tract and has more antioxidant power as well. But the most thing to come away with today is to listen to make sure you listen to your body and, as always, respect its needs.

Demystify how to Detoxify

Have you considered a detox? For most people, the word cleanse brings to mind an image of a bottle of pills, powder or drink that smells terrible and is meant to send you running to the bathroom to “clear out” your intestinal tract. Not a very pleasant visual is it? I’d even say it’s quite a bit off track.

While an element of detoxifying your body does involve flushing out the system form the toxins it is holding on to, it does not have to be so intense. In fact, these colon cleanses can sometimes be dangerous because they can cause dehydration and nutrient loss.

That’s not to say that there isn’t a safe way to cleanse your system. In fact I’m a big proponent of regularly hitting the “reset” button and detoxifying. The trick, however, is knowing what is appropriate for your body, your level of toxicity and your lifestyle. That’s where a little coaching comes in handy. Working with someone who is experienced in the field can not only be helpful in navigating the dozens of various options, but can also ensure you achieve the best results with minimum discomfort.

Some practitioners call these cleanses hoaxes and declare them all dangerous. I’d have to say, some are absolutely ridiculous and even border on dangerous. But I believe when conducted correctly, there’s overwhelming evidence that they do work. By following a detoxifying diet, people have corrected conditions like hypoglycemia, arthritis, irritable bowel disease, and infection; they’ve even fought cancer (and won!)

Fasting (see last month’s blog on fasting and Ramadan for more,) is one way to achieve a cleansing state. By abstaining from food, we allow our bodies a break from food breakdown and metabolism. During this break, our body can begin to “clean house” and eliminate any deposits or toxins that might be slowing it down. This break from digestion also gives our digestion track a much deserved rest and opportunity to restore. Although fasts can last anywhere from a day to weeks, there is an obvious danger in not eating for a long period of time. And let’s face it, being hungry sucks.

Fear not! Abstaining from eating is certainly not our only option. There are juice, raw food, and fruit and veggie cleanses as well as cleanses with pre-made shakes and powder supplements. These options allow for various foods, and usually promote eating only foods that are detoxifying in nature. Some examples of foods with natural detoxification properties are:

·         Cayenne pepper- along with a couple of cousins like jalapeño and habanera, have shown detoxifying and liver cleansing properties.

·         Lemons and limes- have antiseptic properties, loads of vitamin C (antioxidant) and properties that stimulate the liver to cleanse more efficiently

·         Cruciferous vegetables- due to the amount and quality of antioxidants, phytochemicals and minerals contained in these veggies, they have been used to help repair DNA damage and therefore block cancer cell production.

·         Spirulina- I can write an entire article on the benefits of this single super food (maybe I will!) Aside from its super nutritional benefits, its antioxidant qualities make spirulina a potent free radical scavenger. It also has been shown to increase immune system function, making it able to fight cancer, infections and viruses including the flu and HIV.

·        Wheat grass- one of the highest antioxidant activity of any plant organism. Also, its abundance of chlorophyll has been exploited to cure diseases including Inflammatory Bowel Disease, cancer as well as side effects of chemo from traditional cancer therapy.

It’s important to choose your method carefully to ensure you’re achieving your goal without causing harm. For example, some cleanses are better for removing heavy metal toxicity, while others are better for stabilizing blood sugar levels. Again, seek out the help and guidance of someone who’s experienced in this field. Besides, dietary restriction, even for a short period of time is hard! We can all use a coach in our corner!

So are you ready to detox? You can ask me for help anytime!

Fasting: Religion and Physiology

In honor of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, I thought it would be appropriate to delve into the origins and significance of fasting. Islam is not the only faith where fasting is prescribed. Restricting food intake is only one of many forms of fasts. The reasons for fasting are not always religious, non-religious reasons can be political (like Gandhi’s famous peace fasts) or even medical or health related.

Most cultures incorporate fasting though religious practices. The benefits of abstaining from food and water have been observed in many cultures dating back centuries. The general idea behind the fast is that restricting food (and in most cases water,) helps the observer connect more readily with the higher power. By limiting physical satisfaction, individuals can separate physical from spiritual desires. This therefore helps one understand impurities and human imperfections. This seems to be a common theme across the board. 

In the Far East, fasting is a part of Buddhist and Hindu practice. Although, not generally encouraged for most Buddhists, fasting is part of the clergy’s practice. In Hinduism, there are variations in the customs from one region to another. However, those who do observe the practice, do so in worship of the Gods, in remembrance or mourning as well as to guard against egoism and self-indulgence. 

In Christian practice, it is a generally held belief that abstaining from the wants of the flesh frees the soul. Although some Christians observe by only giving up certain items (for example during lent,) other churches observe whole days of fast without food.  In the Greek Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches, for example, fasting is used to guard against gluttony and self indulgence.

In Judaism, fasting is part of the ritual of atonement from sin. In addition, fasting is to commemorate of those lost in the past as well as to celebrate salvation and gratitude. Observers are to abstain from food, drink as well as other pleasures such as lotions, oils and physical contact. The belief is that abstaining from the simple physical indulgences will increase one’s appreciation for the dependence on God and heighten the understanding of loss.

The premise behind fasting in Islam is very similar, and in fact is derived from the tradition of fasting in Judaism and Christianity. Fasting is practiced primarily during the month of Ramadan, marked by the Islamic lunar calendar, but other days are encouraged as well.  It is believed that in abstaining from food and drink, you can more fully understand the plight of those less fortunate and gratitude for what you have. It is also a time of reflection on your actions, words and thoughts, since Muslims are encouraged to refrain from angry outbursts, impure or hateful thoughts and distasteful actions especially during Ramadan. It’s a time for self-reflection and a chance to improve personal conduct, find motivation for self-control as well as seek atonement from God.

There are many proponents as well as opponents in health and nutrition on the topic of fasting. Some argue that the practice is dangerous, and could throw off the body’s natural rhythm and metabolism. Others would assert that the opposite is true; that the occasional reduction of caloric intake is actually beneficial, if not necessary for optimal biological function. This reduction allows the body to slow down and shift from storage mode to “spring cleaning” mode- providing opportunity for the body to clear up the intestines, joints and fat cells of the stores of toxins. Opponents point fingers at the fasting fad, calling the claims of cleanses, detoxes and fasts fraudulent. Question is, can a practice dating back hundreds of years and spanning dozens of cultures be considered a fad?

Most studies conducted on the matter conclude that to some effect the reduction of calories does in fact result in beneficial effects on insulin production and glycogenisis (breakdown of stored fat to form glucose.) Under controlled conditions, and medical supervision and support, fasting could improve your health, lower your blood pressure, your cholesterol and blood sugar levels. But since we are physical and spiritual beings, the spiritual effects must be considered. This tradition can help the observer find balance between the physical world and the spiritual world.

Is fasting part of your religious or health practice? Ever been curious about the beneficial effects of a supported detoxification program? The next blog will explore the effects of detoxes and cleanses. Can’t wait? Get in touch with me now!

The Franken-Plant: GMO Part 2

So where were we? Of yes! We talked about some of the potential risk factors of GM foods, but let’s get into the nitty-gritty:

• Loss of locally adapted seeds. Seeds that are unique to the endogenous area carry characteristics unique to that region due to cross pollination. The result is that creation of strains with advantageous qualities for that area. GM creates a standardized seed. The result: Lack of variety. Not only is variety the spice of life, but it’s also the primary way we can get various nutrients and anti-oxidants.
• Plants genetically modified to withstand pests and climate changes are less resilient, and have a decreased detoxifying effect than traditional plants. Reason being, they've never had to fight to survive. It’s similar to how evolution adapts organisms so unnecessary features are lost (like how humans don’t have a tail anymore.) These plants have lost their detoxifying quality since it's no longer needed.
• Genetically modified seeds can be copyrighted, and copyrighted seeds can be controlled by the seed producer. The result, a monopoly such as the one Monsanto has on soy beans which doesn't allow farmers to save seeds from season to season (they must buy new seeds every year) and will sue if the conglomerate suspects that their seeds have been cross pollinated (even if by accident due to cross winds from adjacent farms). The result here: Farmer’s profits severely reduced.
• Our organs have been designed to breakdown food with specific genetic properties. Drastic changes in the DNA of our produce throws off our system, increasing digestion problems and allergies. Increased GMO in our diet has been shown to be a major contributing factor to the sudden rise in irritable bowel disease and various food allergies (like peanut allergy more than doubling since the late 90's.)
• Our livestock’s feed is also genetically modified. The animals as a result have digestive issues, tumors and nutritional deficiencies. Even more disheartening, animals that have been genetically altered much like plants, emphasizing more desirable qualities. Chickens breed to grow larger breasts to produce more breast meat are just one example. Cows that are bread to produce more milk (at this point I will hold off discussing the use of hormone injections to induce milk production.) Calves bred to have a higher fat content to produce more tender veal. The meat and dairy products they produce is not what our body readily accepts as food.

Let's play devil’s advocate and say that according to Darwin, our bodies are built to adapt and evolve. That if we continue to consume modified foods, those people whose systems can thrive on the new food will live to reproduce. Great, if you're the lucky part of the population that makes it. But how many generations will it take for the majority to adjust? And who's to say that the industry and the science will stop making changes? Like a rabbit chasing the proverbial genetically-modified-carrot.

I don't know about you, but I'm OK with not testing Darwin's evolutionary theory, at least not at the expense of my family's health or my own. I would rather go back to traditional farming practices and not test the waters. The problem is that the companies who manufacture GMO products can profit much more from the patenting of seeds and bullying farmers into using the intellectual property. Good for big business, bad for farmers and consumers.

So how do we fight back? Simple: buy organic! Whenever possible buy from local farms and farmer’s markets that use traditional growing practices.  Recently the FDA decided food manufacturer were not required to label their products as GMO. So you will have to be more diligent in your shopping. Look for labels that say "Non-GMO" at your grocery store when you purchase soy, corn, canola and dairy products. These four products are currently being genetically modified, but in the future I’m sure more will be included. Maybe you can check your local coffee shop's soy milk; is it GMO? Ask the manager if they'd consider switching. The most effective way to create a change is to vote with your wallet.