COFFEE, BUT FIRST WATER!

‘I need coffee’.  No, you don’t. Unless you’re one of the roughly 600 million people who rely on the coffee industry for your survival*; you’re probably just thirsty.

“Coffee – the favorite drink of the civilized world.” – Thomas Jefferson  

How did our dependence on this seemingly magical beverage begin? Legends have coffee consumption dating back in the 9th century. Here’s the brief (anecdotal) history. An Ethiopian farmer noticed his goats getting hopped up on coffee cherries. He tried them, got a buzz, and shared coffee with the monks. They loved it. Coffee started spreading over the Arabian Peninsula, then to northern Africa, Turkey and from there it made its way to Europe. It was eventually traded with North America where colonialism and slavery transformed coffee from an expensive commodity to a basic necessity. 

Today, It’s estimated that 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed every day. 

So,  what’s in a cup?  Why do we love coffee so much? Mostly because of the addictive properties of caffeine. Even though coffee is mostly water, the caffeine in coffee somewhat offsets the hydrating effects of water and can have a diuretic effect.  Redeeming coffee qualities: useful nutrients, including riboflavin (vitamin B-2), niacin (vitamin B-3), magnesium, potassium, and various phenolic compounds (antioxidants).

The worst time to drink coffee- We tend to feel lighter and look leaner when we wake up in the morning. That’s because we lose water weight in our sleep. Fluid loss of ~1% of our body weight can cause headaches, irritability, anxiety, and fatigue.  Additional factors like alcohol or a hot summer day with no A.C. amplify these symptoms, but even responsible adults sleeping 7-8 hours a night, usually wake up dehydrated.  Unless we hydrate before our coffee, the caffeine enters our bloodstream incredibly fast, releasing a flood of stress hormones from our adrenal glands.  Our bodies read this as a fight-or-flight trigger. We become jittery and fight a losing battle all day.  

Our bodies are ~60% water. All of our organs require some water to function properly, so before we can enjoy the benefits of coffee,  it should be our priority to keep our machine lubricated and running smoothly. 

Better Movers drink at least 2L of water/day.

Why we need water to keep us moving and feeling better: 

• It regulates our internal body temperature by sweating and respiration
• Aids with digestion
• Lubricates joints
• Acts as a shock absorber for the brain and spinal cord.

Unlike water, coffee is not a necessity and still has potential risks. Again, mostly due to its high caffeine content, coffee can temporarily raise blood pressure. Women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding need to be cautious about caffeine. However, under certain conditions, it is safe and even healthy!

WHEN SHOULD WE DRINK COFFEE?
The internet is flooded with articles about ‘the best time to drink coffee’. Drinking it too early or too late can throw off your circadian rhythm, which can affect everything from your hormones to your brain and even your workouts! Caffeine affects everyone differently so we’re not going to suggest a specific time of day to drink it (although 9:00AM seems popular).  Simply, drink AFTER you’ve hydrated with some room temperature water (ideally with sea salt & lemon),  and completed light movement  (‘C.A.R.s & Coffee’?) 

HOW SHOULD WE DRINK COFFEE? 

Black or with FAT! {cream, (grass-fed) butter,  ghee, MCT/coconut oil}… Like water, fat is essential to every system of the human body. Adding fat to coffee slows down the digestion and absorption of the caffeine into your system prolonging its effects. 

Enjoy responsibly!