Modern evidence says that coffee provides some health benefits, including prevention of liver cancer, breast cancer, Parkinson’s disease and stroke. But when can coffee actually be more harmful then helpful?

First let’s check the Health Benefits:

• Reduced risk of depression, Alzheimer’s, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease
• Improved cognition and memory
• Reduced risk of liver disease, gallstones, and gout
• Reduced risk of diabetes and improved insulin sensitivity – so can be good for PCOS
• Some evidence for a reduced risk of cancers including liver and breast cancer.

That all sounds like coffee is great for me, but tell me more about the health risks!

Health Risks:

• Contributes to estrogen dominance in the body which is linked to conditions like: Fibroids, Endo, PCOS and Hypothyroidism. 
• Coffee increases the release of cortisol and adrenalin from the adrenal glands. In large amounts, and over a long-term, this may disrupt sleep and impair the body’s ability to deal with stress.
• Increases blood sugar levels – not great for hypoglycaemic persons or those trying to stabilise blood sugar levels.
• Creates carb and sugar cravings.
• Impacts conversion of T4 to T3 in Thyroid hormone – resulting in Low Thyroid.
• Stomach ulcer and acid reflux
• Anxiety and sleep disturbance
• Iron deficiency and reduces medication esp Thyroid medication (prevents absorption).
• Reduces stomach acid leading to nutrient deficiencies and slow metabolism.
• Miscarriage and reduced female fertility
• Tinnitus.
• Genetics. Some people are just born with a slow caffeine clearance.
• Pregnancy slows caffeine clearance. Pregnant women should not consume coffee.
• Can create oxidative stress
• Certain medications slow caffeine clearance. These include HRT and the Pill. So women on the Pill should not consume caffeine. Or, more sensibly, women who drink coffee should not take the Pill.

Crap… that’s a lot more reasons NOT to drink coffee 🙁

Despite the Pro’s, there are significantly more Con’s and most women with hormone issues show a multitude of stress symptoms and high prevalence of adrenal depletion. When we have adrenal depletion we have slow metabolism leading to weight gain.

Already those with low Thyroid should cut out or at least cut down coffee consumption. Because coffee increases cortisol (switching off key hormones). It’s like revving a well worn out engine. For this reason I suggest women say good bye to coffee and hello to milder forms of caffeine in tea’s such as Green Tea (great for weight loss – see my Laksmi tea for more on that) or any other Tea.

If you do consume coffee on the odd occasion, always have this 60mins AFTER food and away from medications.