Coffee and caffeine addiction ruined my mental & physical health. Is it ruining yours?
HOW CAFFEINE RUINED MY MENTAL HEALTH
I was drinking 4-6 cups of coffee a day. I noticed I was always hungry and never satisfied no matter how much I ate. I thought caffeine was supposed to be an appetite suppressant, but little did I realize that caffeine actually stimulates cortisol and insulin, aka “the fat hormones.”
I couldn't sleep, I was depressed and manic. I was diagnosed with every mental disorder under the sun and given medications that only made life worse. While things like Prozac masked my symptoms, the drugs would often come with a host of unbearable side effects.
I finally came across an article by Ruth Whalen, a Medical Laboratory Technician from Cape Cod, MA, titled, CAFFEINE ALLERGY: Past Disorder or Present Epidemic?
When I read this article, I recognized my own health issues and decided to take a coffee break and replace it with cacao and adaptogens to see what happened. The results were nothing short of amazing.
“With the upswing of "chemical imbalance" disorders that surfaced in the latter twentieth century, many researchers frantically attempt to unravel the brain's intricate clockworks. In turn, as the number of persons suffering with mental issues mount, it seems that doctors, pressed for time, are quick to refer patients to psychiatrists. Failing to request a medical physical, many psychiatrists hand out medications, often masking the underlying physical problem.
People have overlooked two simple but deleterious factors: 1,3,7 trimethylxanthine and allergy. Simply put: caffeine allergy. It is medical knowledge that the longer a person is exposed to a drug, the higher the chances are for developing a tolerance, and an allergy to the substance. Once this happens, caffeine allergic persons can't properly metabolize caffeine, which is rapidly absorbed by all organs, and distributed into intracellular compartments, and extracellular water.
Mentioned in a 1936 article by Drs. McManamy and Schube, a young woman, allergic to caffeine, presented with alternating states of delirium and mania, resembling schizophrenia (1). After the recorded case, allergy documentation becomes rare. And not surprisingly.
The drug's stimulating properties masks its allergic symptoms. Circulating adrenaline (epinephrine) increases in caffeine consuming persons. In its synthetic form, epinephrine is the drug of choice for anaphylactic reactions, halting allergic reactions. But added to a stimulant reaction, excess adrenaline may induce delusions. And the breakdown of some adrenaline byproducts mimics symptoms of schizophrenia.”
DID SOMEONE SAY CHOCOLATE? REPLACING COFFEE WITH CACAO
Cacao beans
Ok we're not talking about candy bars here. We're talking about 100% Cacao which is unprocessed and contains no added sugars.
The reason 100% Cacao is superior to processed or dutched chocolate is due to theobromine, a bitter alkaloid found primarily in cacao.
Cacao boasts many health bebefits, including the following, according to TCHO:
HEALTHY HEART
“Research suggests theobromine may help protect the heart in several ways. For starters, it naturally lowers blood pressure. This, in turn, decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease. There’s also some evidence theobromine may reduce “bad” cholesterol and improve “good” cholesterol. Additionally, the substance may improve blood flow throughout the body, further supporting the heart.”
INCREASED ENERGY
“As noted above, theobromine is quite similar in structure to caffeine; so it may not come as a surprise that theobromine is a known stimulant. This means consuming theobromine may result in both a physical and mental energy boost. Theobromine differs from caffeine, however, in that its stimulant effects are likely to be milder and longer-lasting.”
IMPROVED COGNITIVE FUNCTION
“Because theobromine functions as a stimulant, it may provide a short-term boost in brain function. This is likely because it encourages blood flow to the brain, which may help people feel more mentally alert and focused after having a chocolatey snack.”
GOOD MOOD
“Research in this area is mixed, but there’s some evidence the consumption of theobromine may result in a mood boost in the form of greater relaxation and a more positive affect.
What's more, a recent article by Anima Mundi Apothecary about the benefits of cacao, discusses the ways in which it can actually help improve sleep patterns!
“Magnesium, often referred to as the ‘sleep mineral’ is instrumental in sleep and is a natural relaxant that helps deactivate adrenaline.
A lack of magnesium can be directly linked to difficulty going and staying asleep. Magnesium also fights acid buildup, neutralizes toxins, calms sensitivity to pain, and quiets nerves.
Cacao is said to be the highest magnesium containing food on the planet, a mineral that 80% of Americans are deficient in.
Tryptophan is an amino acid that when ingested gets turned into the neurotransmitter serotonin and then converted into the hormone melatonin.
Serotonin is known as the “Happy chemical” and raw cacao boosts the body’s natural production of it, increasing our mood and ability to fend off stress.
Both magnesium and tryptophan, are necessary chemicals for the production of serotonin. Tryptophan is heat-volatile and therefore non-existent in cooked chocolate, making raw chocolate an excellent way to obtain dietary tryptophan.”
Cacao powder
WHERE DO I GET CACAO POWDER?
Similar to brewed cacao, cacao powder is an excellent source of theobromine with 131 mg per tablespoon. Add two or three tablespoons of cacao powder into your favorite smoothie and you’re close to the same level of theobromine in brewed cacao. The less processed, the better when it comes to cacao powder. Navitas Organics is a great choice. Always choose chocolate that is not dutched.
There's also Crio Bru, who, in their recent blog posts, noted that “cacao drinks have been used for emotional and spiritual healing and ceremony for thousands of years. Ancient shamans used cacao ceremonies to help prepare the body and soul for shamanic journeying. Today’s cacao ceremonies are rooted in shamanic healing practices, one of the oldest holistic healing modalities used by indigenous cultures all over the world. Cacao ceremonies can be practiced ritualistically and individually at home, similar to forms of tea meditation.”
ADDING ADAPTOGENS TO YOUR HOT CHOCOLATE
Maca, Lion’s Mane, Reishi and Ashwagandha are just a few adaptogens that can help you quit coffee
Ever heard of brands like Four Sigmatic or MUD/WTR?
While these are excellent, high quality brands we love, cost can keep many consumers from trying them. So we developed a recipe you can try at home.
For us, we found that we were drinking 2-3 servings a day of MUD/WTR and that added up, especially at $30 a can.
So what we did was source each ingredient that we felt was the most beneficial, and buy in bulk. Now you can buy 4-6oz sizes, 1 lb sizes, or kilos if you really want to save money.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED
LION’S MANE + REISHI + CACAO HOT BEVERAGE
Take about 1 tbsp cacao and 1tsp each of Mucuna, Lion's Mane, Reishi.
Add to 8 oz hot water or milk.
Then add 1-2 tbsp of coconut milk creamer to sweeten.
Stir and enjoy with your favorite Speciosa strain for added mood boost and energy efficiency!