Coffee is by far one of the most popular and beloved beverages in the world. According to Wirthlin Worldwide (a market research company), Americans consume an average of 1.8 cups of coffee per day. Compare this to our water consumption. It is recommended to consume an average of 8-10 8oz glasses of “living water” (ie, mineral-rich, slightly alkaline, and which produces energy when in the body) each day. Yet frightening statistics reveal that 20% of Americans drink no water at all, while only 42% of us consume just 2 glasses or less.
The fight between water and coffee is further intensified when you consider that for every cup of coffee (100mg of caffeine) your body needs 3 cups of water to compensate for the water loss that is caused by the diuretic effect of coffee. coffee.
Before ordering your next “mocha latte frappawhatever…” remember the following facts about coffee:
o Coffee intensifies stress, causing an average 40% increase in adrenaline. This results in increased blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, nervousness, and irritability.
o Coffee increases the secretion of stomach acid by 400%, contributing to gastritis and peptic ulcers.
o Coffee has a 50% increased risk of heart attack (British medical journal Lancet)
o Coffee causes a significant loss of nutrients, especially magnesium, potassium, calcium, zinc and B vitamins.
o Coffee is a major source of cadmium, a heavy metal that has been linked to cancer and immune suppression.
If you are a woman, consider the following even scarier facts:
o Caffeine is linked to ovarian cancer and bladder and kidney cancers.
o Coffee increases the risk of miscarriage and can double the rate with just 1 cup (160 mg of caffeine) per day (JAMA, 1993).
o Coffee has adverse effects on the muscle development and nutritional balance of the baby and increases the risk of birth defects.
o Coffee reduces fertility. More than 1 cup a day makes a woman half as likely to conceive (American Journal of Epidemiology)!
When it comes to your energy, the caffeine inherent in coffee is the stimulant that gives you that short-lived energy in the morning. But here’s the problem, caffeine is like any other stimulant: it’s a drug that creates dependency. This dependency occurs as a result of the caffeine receptors in your body becoming saturated rather quickly. As such, you need to consume more caffeine to get the same effect! You can see how this vicious cycle can get out of hand. If you’re a coffee drinker, just think about the last time you didn’t drink coffee for a day or two. How did you feel? Tired, irritable, headache? Exactly!
water is happiness
Now consider the wonders of water. Considering that the adult body is at least 60% water, it’s no surprise that clean “living water” can have absolutely phenomenal effects on your body.
Water is essential for many bodily functions, including circulation, digestion, absorption, and waste elimination. Water also carries electrolytes (ie sodium, potassium) which are essential for electrical signaling within the body.
Considering its many functions in the body, is it any wonder that you can feel tired and sluggish when dehydrated?
Water is also a natural anticoagulant, as it makes up the bulk of our blood. Water constitutes 95% of the plasma component of blood, which, in turn, comprises approximately 55% of the total blood volume. Therefore, when your body does not receive enough water, the blood loses its fluidity as water is removed from the blood. The result – agglomeration of red blood cells. This increased blood viscosity makes you feel more tired and sluggish.
Therefore, one of the easiest, safest, and best ways to improve your energy throughout the day is to constantly sip on “living water” to keep your body hydrated and functional.
A general rule of thumb for how much water you should drink per day at rest is as follows:
Multiply your body weight (lbs) x 0.55 and divide by 8. This will give you the number of 8 oz glasses you should drink per day at rest.
© 2006 Yuri Elkaim, BPHE, CK – Total Wellness Consulting.
