Coffee - Health Food!

[John317]

Johns Hopkins University just finished another study on caffeine addictions.

In their review, the researchers identified 57 experimental studies and nine survey studies on caffeine withdrawal, and examined each to assess the validity of the reported findings.

The researchers identified five clusters of common withdrawal symptoms: headache; fatigue or drowsiness; dysphoric mood including depression and irritability; difficulty concentrating; and flu-like symptoms of nausea, vomiting and muscle pain or stiffness. In experimental studies, 50 percent of people experienced headache and 13 percent had clinically significant distress or functional impairment -- for example, severe headache and other symptoms incompatible with working. Typically, onset of symptoms occurred 12 to 24 hours after stopping caffeine, with peak intensity between one and two days, and for a duration of two to nine days. In general, the incidence or severity of symptoms increased with increases in daily dose, but abstinence from doses as low as 100 milligrams per day, or about one small cup of coffee, also produced symptoms. ...

Great information here.

I had noticed myself that drinking coffee seemed to be related to headache. If I drank coffee when I had a headache it seemed to me that my headache would get worse. So I tried to avoid drinking coffee if I felt a headache beginning. I don't drink regular coffee at all any more.

I started drinking it at my job because I worked all night, and after that I continued to drink between one to three cups a night for 18 years. During much of that time I was also drinking at least a liter of diet Pepsi per day. My blood pressure went up quite a bit during those years, and then after I stopped drinking it about a year ago, my blood pressure went down to within the normal range. Also, a few days ago after I went for a blood test, my doctor told me that my cholesterol had decreased significantly since it was last tested about three years ago.

[John317]

Caffeine does not provide energy?only chemical stimulation. The perceived "energy" comes from the body's struggle to adapt to increased blood levels of stress hormones. In most cases, this induced emergency state leads to well-defined side effects collectively known as caffeinism. Ironically, caffeinism is characterized by fatigue.

Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske MS, page 10

While coffee, tea and other substances containing caffeine may be used as stimulants to overcome the toxic effects of sedative drug poisoning, they tend to charge the adrenals and thus deplete the body's reserves.

Planetary Herbology by Michael Tierra CA ND, page 241

Let's face it, remaining healthy and strong throughout life is a battle. Caffeine is the Trojan horse. It looks like a gift but instead delivers adrenal stress, low blood sugar, mood and energy swings, fatigue, depression, malnutrition, and disturbed sleep. By now, you are starting to see the full scope of how caffeine affects the quality of life. Caffeinism is a gradual and at first imperceptible disorder.

Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske MS, page 94

The truth about caffeine and energy is finally getting out. Physicians are starting to warn their patients about caffeine "rebound," and an article in U.S. News & World Report listed caffeine addiction as a major cause of fatigue, including a "crash" that occurs after caffeine "buzz" wears off. People who become aware of this powerful influence on energy and mood and take steps to improve their energy naturally can experience remarkable improvements in their quality of life.

Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske MS, page 119

"Adrenal fatigue"

The caffeine connection has been hidden by the fact that treatment for adrenal dysfunction disorders tends to be shortsighted and one-dimensional. As I have explained before, understanding the health effects of caffeine requires a long view, perhaps encompassing most of one's lifetime. And from that long-term view, a two-phase phenomenon is revealed.

Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske MS, page 205

Another concern is that caffeine addiction often occurs along with other substance abuses, nicotine and sugar most commonly. Caffeine, like sugar, over stimulates the adrenals and then weakens them with persistent or chronic use. First, sugar stimulates and weakens the adrenals, which creates fatigue. Then we use caffeine to keep us aware and awake, further depleting our adrenals, to which many respond by drinking more caffeine with sugar. In addition, people who overuse caffeine tend to need more tranquilizers and sleeping pills to help them relax or sleep.

Staying Healthy With Nutrition by Elson M Haas MD, page 937

Reduce or eliminate caffeine from your diet. Caffeine puts additional stress on your adrenal glands.

Enhancing Heart Health by Matthew budoff MD FACC, page 61

But caffeine overstimulates the nerves and glands. It drains the adrenal system, damages the thyroid, and can trigger heart arrhythmias. In female and male menopause, caffeine plays a role: Breast cysts and lumps are common in women, while men suffer from caffeine-induced prostate problems.

Food Swings by Barnet Meltzer MD, page 56

Much of the above confirms what Ellen White wrote over a hundred and 30 years ago:

"Coffee is a hurtful indulgence. It temporarily excites the mind to unwonted action, but the aftereffect is sad-- prostration and exhaustion of the physcial, mental, and moral forces. The mind becomes enervated, and unless through determined effort, the habit is overcome, the activity of the brain is greatly lessened.

"In some cases it is as difficult to beak up this tea-and-coffee habit as it is for the inebraiate to discontinue the use of liquor. The money used for tea and coffee as a common drink is worse than wasted. It does the user, be it man or woman, harm, and that continually.

"All these nerve irritants are wearing away the life forces, and the restlessness, the impatience, the mental feebleness cause by shattered nerves become a warring element, ever working against spiritual progress. Shall Christians bring their appetite under the control of reason, or will they continue its indulgence because they feel so 'let down' without it, like the drunkard without his stimulant? Shall not those who advocated temperance reform awake in regard to these injurious things also? And shall not the pledge embrace coffee and tea as hurtful stimulants?" Counsels On Health, pp. 443, 444

"God requires that we present our bodies a living sacrifice. Then duty is enjoined on us to preserve that body in the very best condition of health, that we may comply with His equirements. 'Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.' 1 Cor. 10: 31." CH 88.

[Woody]

John317 ... the point is not that Coffee is healthy or not healthy. The point is that the Bible clearly says coffee drinking is NOT a sin and Ellen White says it IS.

The issue is her use of the word SIN.

[David Koot]

The point is that the Bible clearly says coffee drinking is NOT a sin

The Bible says no such thing.

[Taylor]

John317 ... the point is not that Coffee is healthy or not healthy. The point is that the Bible clearly says coffee drinking is NOT a sin and Ellen White says it IS.

The issue is her use of the word SIN.

I haven't seen coffee mentioned at all in the Bible. You have me curious.

[Woody]

Taylor .... You are right about that. But it is food or drink.

[David Koot]

You are right about that. But it is food or drink.

Several issues here:

1) Coffee is not mentioned in the Bible. Neither is tobacco.

2) Principles which would apply to the use of coffee and tobacco are mentioned in the Bible.

3) Coffee and tobacco are not merely 'food or drink.'

4) The issues of food and drink which Paul refers to, pertain to the Jewish ceremonial laws, not to questions of health or a healthy diet and lifestyle.

[Taylor]

I could be wrong and I am busy today or I would look it up...but when the Bible talks about Food and Drink isn't it talking about food or drink offered to idols? I.E. to a strong christian it wasn't an issue but since it could be a stumbeling block to someone else one should refrain from eating or drinking things that had been offered to idols?

[Woody]

Quote:

Coffee is not mentioned in the Bible

David .... I've had fun battling you for awhile here. Now I think I've finally got you in the box I want.

For those that claim that we as SDAs believe in the Bible and the Bible alone .... And those that claim that Ellen White does not add to the Bible ... Here is the problem. Since the Bible does not call Coffee drinking a sin ... what gives Ellen White the authority to call it SIN ??

[David Koot]

Answer this question for me, and I will answer your question:

What gives Christians authority to identify tobacco use as a sin?

[David Koot]

I could be wrong and I am busy today or I would look it up...but when the Bible talks about Food and Drink isn't it talking about food or drink offered to idols? I.E. to a strong christian it wasn't an issue but since it could be a stumbeling block to someone else one should refrain from eating or drinking things that had been offered to idols?

Exactly.

[Woody]

Answer this question for me, and I will answer your question:

What gives Christians authority to identify tobacco use as a sin?

Nothing. Most Christians don't label it as sin.

[Taylor]

Answer this question for me, and I will answer your question:

What gives Christians authority to identify tobacco use as a sin?

Well some don't see tobacco usage as a sin because it is less harmful than other substances, perhaps. I think most Christian churches of any demonination would say that drug usage such as PCP, Crack, Cocain is a sin. Is that a true statement?

[David Koot]

The non-Adventist Christians I know of here in Northern California label it as sin! But yeah, as Taylor pointed out, use of cocaine, crack, meth, etc., is clearly labeled as a sin by Christians. How about it? By what authority do Christians label use of such drugs as a sin?

[Amelia]

Caffiene doesn't do a thing for me. I use to take caff tabs in college to try and keep me awake during those 6am lectures. Nope didn't work. Recently I tried again to use caff tabs and mt dew to keep me awake for the long weird hour drives for work. Nope didn't work again. I have tried those "power" drinks. Nothing. Coffee. Nothing. No boost effect. No let down effect. So what gives? Can a person be immune to caffiene?

[David Koot]

Hey, Ames is Ames!

[Woody]

The point here is that God gave us each a brain. He also instructed us to not JUDGE each other. So .... what is sin for me may well not be sin for you. If the Bible does not state coffee to be sin .... then it is left to the individual to judge for themselves to determine if it is sin for THEM.

I don't drink coffee. I do not believe it is good for me. This is a personal decision and conviction. I will not and I refuse to say to anyone else that coffee drinking is a sin. Ellen White can believe that. FINE. It is a sin for HER. But it is not a sin for YOU or for ME ... even though I personally may have come to the conclusion that it is not best for me personally.

[Taylor]

Caffiene doesn't do a thing for me. I use to take caff tabs in college to try and keep me awake during those 6am lectures. Nope didn't work. Recently I tried again to use caff tabs and mt dew to keep me awake for the long weird hour drives for work. Nope didn't work again. I have tried those "power" drinks. Nothing. Coffee. Nothing. No boost effect. No let down effect. So what gives? Can a person be immune to caffiene?

That is funny Amelia! Caffein doesn't work very well to keep me awake either but it does make me feel all jittery. I remember once drinking a jolt and a mountain dew...boy that got me feeling pretty badly. I would say that some people handle caffein better just like some can handle alcohol better than others, but the caffein or the alcohol are still not good for you with the alcohol being far worse than the caffein.

[David Koot]

We're talking right now about tobacco and other narcotics, such as crystal meth, crack, etc. Are you suggesting that the use of such narcotics is not a sin? That as long as it is right in the eyes of a person, then it is not a sin?

[David Koot]

Now I think I've finally got you in the box I want.

In your dreams!

[Amelia]

ROFL, now now.

[David Koot]

ROFL, now now.

:E

[Woody]

We're talking right now about tobacco and other narcotics, such as crystal meth, crack, etc. Are you suggesting that the use of such narcotics is not a sin? That as long as it is right in the eyes of a person, then it is not a sin?

The principles of the Bible are good enough for me. I will follow them personally. But I will not sit in judgment of someone else and how the Holy Spirit has worked with them personally. Pointing out the application of a Biblical is fine for you to do for your personal life but I prefer to not point fingers at someone else and how they apply the Biblical Principles.

You can call coffee or drugs a sin for your life. I may also call it a sin for my life. I will even call it unhealthy for others. But to call it sin for someone else is to judge . And I refuse to judge another's heart and life and how the Holy Spirit works with them.

[David Koot]

But now you have switched gears. You were talking about EGW, and what authority she would cite. We also mentioned about the Christian community and drugs. Now, you are talking about what YOU would do. Apples and oranges. Let's get back on point. Betta watch out, son, or you gonna end up in a purty tight box! lol

[Woody]

Hey ... I'm still here. I do not believe that Ellen White ... you .... or I .... have the authority to take something from Biblical principle to application and call it a sin for someone else's life. Call it unhealthy or what ever you want. But for Ellen White or anyone to call it sin .... in my book is wrong. The Holy Spirit is the one to convict us of wrong. If you don't feel that coffee is a sin .... Then the Holy Spirit is just not ready to convict you of that yet. The Holy Spirit has better timing that I would have. So ... I will not tell you that drugs or coffee use is a sin. I will just tell you that I believe it is not healthy.