Take Anything... Just Leave My Coffee Alone!
By
Michael Callen
The pursuit of a healthier me (or you) shouldn't involve
losing everything we enjoy. However, it has been
well-established that caffeine consumption confounds weight
loss activities and most of us begin our day with a big, hot
cup of it.
With that said, the secret to a successful
weight loss pursuit is really all about balance. Maybe
you'll read this article and decide to quit caffeine
altogether. Maybe you'll read it and be careful to avoid
extra caffeine. Maybe you'll read it and decide to blame me
for all of your troubles!
Whatever you decide, just remember... this weightloss/fatloss
journey is a voyage that will take time, committment and
slow, steady progress.
Two aspects of caffeine's relationship to weightloss are
cortisol production and dehydration. First of all, let's
talk about cortisol.
According to Caroline MacDougall, founder of
Teeccino, cortisol is what's known as a stress hormone
and it's purpose is to activate many of the body's defenses.
While doing so, corisol is responsible for shutting down
other functions (digestion, immune system) in the name of
energy conservation.
The hormone's purpose is to give us a quick boost of
energy for a very short period of time, if we are in a
dangerous or life-threatening situation. The problem is that
caffeine causes the body to release cortisol into the blood
stream, even when we are not in danger.
The effects of overexposure to cortisol include elevated
blood sugar, higher cholesterol, higher blood pressure,
higher appetite, and, with age, loss of cartilage, bone and
muscle tissue. It doesn't take much reflection to realize
that we need to seriously evaluate how caffeine is affecting
us and our pursuit of a healthier body.
Teeccino makes an herbal coffee substitute that has a lot
of body and flavor, and is caffeine free! If you think you
can't break free from the grips of caffeine, get their
sample pack and slowly substitute herbal coffee for your
caffeinated brew over the course of a week. I'll bet you can
do it!
Another product that tastes better than coffee and has
none of it's "evil" properties is
Green Tea Extract. Green Tea Extract is a dark colored
liquid that is dispensed from a dropper into the bottom of a
glass. Next, hot or cold water is poured into the glass and
the beverage is ready to drink. The resulting concoction is
slightly sweet and contains no caffeine.
Not only is it a great tasting alternative to coffee, it
also contains antioxidants known as chatechins and
polyphenols which help to prevent fats from being oxidized.
Once fats are oxidized they become more difficult to remove
from the body.
The second aspect we want to discuss this week is
caffeine's propensity to dehydrate. Much has been written
about the importance of drinking water while trying to lose
weight. Because caffeine is a diuretic, it actually causes
the body to flush water out of your system.
Water is integral if you are to have proper kidney
function. The better your kidneys operate, the less the
liver needs to become involved. The less your liver needs to
do to help out the kidneys, the more it is available to
metabolize stored fat. And that's what we're after, right?
Drinking coffee (because of the caffeine) ends up creating
a water deficit and makes your liver and kidneys work
harder. Hopefully you will evaluate the sources and
quantities of caffeine that you ingest, and weigh the
alternatives. Caffeine is simply one bad habit that, once
changed, can dramatically improve your health and help you
to burn more fat!
References:
University of California Los Angeles Michael Callen is the author of the
Weekly Weightloss Tips Newsletter and the Chief
Technology Officer for
http://www.WellnessPartners.com, an online
retailer of dozens of health and wellness products. Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Callen
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