I grew up in the pacific northwest where it rains 9 months out of the year. There are 2 coffee shops on nearly every street corner, and just about everyone I know loves their lattes, americanos and mochas.

I remember the joy of stopping into one of my favorite coffee shops when it was pouring rain outside. I still reminisce about the seductive smell of coffee beans, and the warm embrace of a hot cup of coffee between my hands.

Even though I would gladly take a bath in a freshly brewed cup of Kona coffee, I’ve learned that my body doesn’t like it, and I honor that.

But what about you? Is coffee a health heroine in your life, or is she playing the role of villain in a dark dress?

The thing I think is so fascinating about caffeine – coffee in particular – is that when you research it from a health perspective, you will find studies that directly contradict each other left and right. If you love it you’ll find research to support your love. And if you don’t, you’ll find research to support your objections, too.

This is where we have to look to each person’s bio-individuality to decide if coffee is “good” for you, or not. In some cases, we have to make hard decisions to part with things we love – for the sake of our bodies and our health.

Let me share some well researched facts about coffee and caffeine. Read through them and notice if you’ve already decided beforehand where you stand with caffeine and coffee. Notice if you’re attached to it in some way, and if it is truly serving you and your health well.

• Just 8 ounces of ordinary brewed coffee makes people more alert. With 16 ounces, people report an improved sense of well-being, happiness, energy, and sociability. Studies suggest that caffeine improves concentration and performance. It might even help reduce muscle pain – the list of benefits goes on.

I read this and I think to myself, “What’s not to like about all of this? Why wouldn’t you drink coffee every day?” The benefits seem impressive. But that’s not the entire story.

• Caffeine creates a dependency in the body. When consumption becomes regular or daily, the body requires the caffeine to function. This is why so many people will say things like, “Don’t talk to me until I’ve had my coffee”. They cannot think, function or perform until the brain and body are supported by caffeine.

• A depression of mood and performance can occur as part of the letdown after the stimulant effects of caffeine wear off. Your body will require another dose to bring itself up to “normal” function.

• This letdown can also show up during the recovery period after quitting caffeine while the brain’s chemistry readjusts. Rather than increasing mental activity, caffeine actually decreases blood flow to the brain by as much as 30%, which negatively affects memory, as well as mental and physical performance.

• Caffeine has been linked to cardiovascular problems. It elevates heart rate and blood pressure, it may increase cholesterol and homocysteine (the biochemical that has been linked to an increased risk for heart attack), and is linked to coronary vasospasms which cause 20% of all fatal heart attacks that affect otherwise perfectly healthy people.

• Caffeine stimulates the excretion of stress hormones which produce increased levels of anxiety, irritability, muscular tension and pain, indigestion, insomnia and decreased immunity. When your stress levels are elevated on a regular basis it makes it more difficult for you to have a healthy response to everyday stress.

• Over time, caffeine can lead to adrenal exhaustion, which leaves you vulnerable to a variety of health disorders related to inflammation and fatigue.

• Caffeine has been linked to blood sugar swings (diabetics and hypoglycemics should avoid caffeine), gut problems (including heartburn, GERD, and an increased risk for ulcers), nutritional deficiencies, urinary and prostate problems in men. It has also been linked to fibrocystic breast disease, PMS, osteoporosis, infertility issues, miscarriage, low birth weight, and an increase in challenging menopausal symptoms in women.

• Many people find that as they age they can no longer tolerate the same level of caffeine consumption they could in their 20s and 30s. Caffeine accelerates the decline of DHEA, melatonin and other vital hormones in the body, contributing to sleep issues and more. It also dehydrates the body, contributes to aging of the skin and kidneys, and has been shown to inhibit the body’s ability to repair its own DNA.

So. Is caffeine a heroine or villain in your life?

What works beautifully for one person might cause a train wreck in another. What once worked for one might stop being a healthy choice as they age or their body’s needs shift and change.

The real question is, will you listen to what your body says it needs to feel its best, even if it means saying goodbye to your morning cup of java?

PS: I now drink a blend of adaptogenic herbs and medicinal mushrooms every day. I ❤️ it and no longer feel I’m missing anything when it comes to caffeine or coffee. The company’s name is RASA, and they are based in Boulder, Colorado, very near to where I live. If you’d like to check them out for yourself, go here. You will receive a discount code for 15% off your first order!

PPS: If you want to learn more about the history of caffeine and other ways it impacts the body, check out Michael Pollan’s book “This is Your Mind on Plants”.