Coffee: Herbal Help or an Herbal Hindrance?

I've been drinking coffee ever since I was a child. I used to sneak sips of coffee from my mom's mug when she wasn't paying attention. By the time I was a teenager I was a full-time coffee drinker. It wasn't fanatic drinking of the coffee at the age of sixteen, but I enjoyed a cup before I went to the bus stop each morning. By the time I became an adult, it was nothing for me to put away a pot of coffee per day. At one point, I had graduated to drinking Red Eyes from my favorite café. A red eye is a cup of regular coffee with a shot of espresso. I'd have it maybe once or twice per week. And let's not even get started on all the lattes, cappuccinos, and café au laits I've consumed over the years.

However, during my research for my herbal book, I came across some interesting information about coffee. It is said to have health benefits that helps with weight loss, jet lag, asthma, and stamina. However, what concerns me the most about coffee, even after being such an avid drinker of it for so many years is the caffeine in the coffee. After years of consuming caffeinated (or regular) coffee, I had to stop and slowly taper off to drinking decaf. Now, that's all I drink when it comes to coffee. And I do feel a lot better. I'm not telling anyone not to drink coffee for the purpose of losing weight, gaining more stamina for athletic reasons, or to improve breathing, but you have to look at the coin on both sides.

Caffeine is the active ingredient in coffee that helps with weight loss. Caffeine is even included in many of today's weight loss supplements that are sold over-the-counter. It's even in green tea, which is said to help with heart health. Caffeine is an addictive stimulant. It's a legal addictive stimulant.

I mean, I went from a cup of coffee per day to a pot of coffee per day within a matter of a couple of years. Some people drink a pot of coffee or even more than a pot of coffee per day their entire lives. The caffeine is what gets the heart going thereby increasing one's metabolism, however, we can get that same effect from aerobic exercise, dancing, yoga, or walking. Why should we use an addictive stimulant to create that same effect in our bodies?

This information about the caffeine in the coffee reminds me of how people would say that smoking cigarettes was good because it suppressed your appetite. Of course it did (I smoked for fifteen years), but while it is helping you stay away from the cake and cookies, it's slowly chipping away at your lungs and heart.

It's the same deal with caffeine. In my opinion, all of this information begs an important question. Would coffee be as effective as an herbal supplement without the caffeine?

In my own opinion, I don't believe coffee serves a healthful purpose without the caffeine other than being a satisfying, tasty drink. Although, it helps with breathing, stamina, and weight loss, it hurts other things in our bodies. In many herbal books and resources, it is stated that there should caution when using coffee as an herbal supplement. Coffee (with caffeine) can increase blood pressure, increase cholesterol, and like I said before, increase one's heart rate.

Coffee should definitely be used with caution. Normal consumption of one to two cups per day is acceptable and considered within a healthy range for those wishing to continue drinking regular (caffeinated) coffee. For those of you, like me, who decided to drink decaf from now on, perhaps it's not full of the caffeine that will help us shed those unwanted pounds or help us run a 100-yard race, but it is still a delicious drink to have with breakfast.