I love coffee. The taste, the smell, the experience. I particularly love waking up on the weekends and having a coffee at a cafe with my fiancé , or meeting up with friends for a ‘coffee’.

However, I’ve known for years now that coffee does not agree with my Primal Patten Diet Type. I’m what’s called a fast oxidizer which means my body runs well on proteins and fats and not so well on carbs, sugars and stimulants.

Every year I go through phases where I’ll cut coffee out of my diet for around 3-4 weeks and feel great, but it always sneaks its way back in! Not this time though…I think I’m finally done with my coffee affaire!

Why I’ve Given Up Coffee

Well, there’s a few reasons why. The main reason is that I’m trying to heal a leaky gut and coffee irritates the intestinal tract. I’m wanting to get my gut as healthy as possible as my fiancé and I want to start trying for a baby next year! Having this goal, this dream, has made it so much easier to give it up.

With anything in life, if the dream is big enough & it’s achievable, you will make it happen

Since giving up my addiction three weeks ago, I don’t ever feel anxious, I’m not as bloated, I sleep like a log and I don’t feel fatigued.

The Benefits Of Coffee

Before I get into all the negatives, let me share with you some benefits of drinking coffee:

• Has some beneficial antioxidants
• Clears the bowels
• Can be used for healing purposes through coffee enemas 
• By drinking coffee prior to exercise is may aid athletic performance
• Linearises thoughts and aids mental performance

The Negatives Of Coffee

• Very stressful on the female hormonal system, particularly for pre & post menopausal women and women with menstrual irregularity or pain
• It is a stimulant which accelerates the sympathetic nervous system making you far too yang, and often drains your adrenal glands
• One of the most heavily sprayed crops in the world, making it toxic unless organic (may make you think twice when buying your morning coffee at your local cafe!)
• Highly addictive!
• Diuretic causing irritation to the intestinal tract
• Elevates cortisol which suppresses your immune system over time
• Major fungal feeder! Once your immune system becomes stressed, this makes it easier for fungal & parasite infections to wreak havoc in your body
• Overheats body and is drying, slowing down healing of connective tissue

A couple of days ago, I put a much shorter version of this post on my Facebook page and asked if anyone else had given up coffee. Below are some of the answers I received…

“Ohhhh I need to jump off the coffee wagon too! My gut practically screams at me everyday while I’m having one but I love the taste so am not listening to my neon flashing body messages! Your coffee story has struck a nerve so I’m going to give it a go – even though I already know that I’ll feel so great without it! Thanks Liz!!!!” – Janine

“Me too! Doesn’t agree with me either and I feel so much better without it. Herbal tea obsessed now” – Christine

“I gave up coffee at the end of May this year and I am so happy. The first 10 days were torture. I would have a headache as soon as I woke up until I went to bed, terrible mood all day and I would need to nap for an hour or so in the afternoon to combat the headaches. Then on day 11 I woke up and my boyfriend said to me “Any headache today honey?” and surprisingly I was fine! Now I don’t “need” anything to get me through the day, there is no yoyo of energy, I’ve decreased my intake of dairy incidentally and my teeth are whiter (along with the help of oil pulling). I’ve also saved a bunch of money! I did have one 2 months after I quit just to see and Oh My Glob! My gut was wrenching in pain, I felt so wired and jittery and let’s just say it went straight through me! I’m done with coffee and stay away from caffeine in general including green tea and nasty sodas. I recommending kicking this habit to everyone!” – Panda

“I was coffee free for 6 months then I had it again for 2 months. No more coffee for me. It rips holes in your adrenals. I love Teecino. The hazelnut one with almonds, chicory, dates and figs. It’s alkaline. Sometimes I add dandelion root. Also, love herbal tea.” – Lauren

Don’t get me wrong guys, I totally get that you need to allow room in your life for some simple pleasures. Totally get-it. However, if these simple pleasures become damaging to your health, that’s where I draw a line. Some people metabolise coffee far better than others, however even if you don’t get the jitters or the runs, coffee still can cause problems.

There’s A Light At The End Of This Tunnel!

I can almost guarantee that there will be quite a few people reading this who love coffee and probably hate me right now (or perhaps you’re thanking me??), so for those of you, I highly recommend you watch Paul Chek’s 3 part series on YouTube about coffee and how you can make it yourself without causing harm to your precious body 🙂

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Have you given up coffee or trying to? What is your story?

P.S. if you’re interested in finding out what your Primal Pattern Diet Type is, email me at liz@lifewithelizabethrose.com to make an appointment via skype.