Following on from my article on the benefits of water in your beauty regime, I thought it was an appropriate time to discuss coffee! For some of us, coffee is a couple of times a week treat in a trendy coffee shop where it has been lovingly brewed and the taste enjoyed ; however for some it’s a 4-6 times a day crutch! I recently heard one woman stating that she can’t get out of the house without 4 hits and that’s before 9am.

The facts on coffee; it is classified as an anti-nutrient which means that it takes more out of the body (to detoxify and clear) than it adds. It does this by reducing the absorption of iron and zinc by up to 50%. Zinc is an important immunity support hence our risk of illness can be increased and don’t forget it is also a nutrient required for healthy looking skin. Iron reduction will also impact on the quality and importantly the quantity of our hair; as such we don’t want these important minerals removed from our bodies.

As stated in my last article it is also a diuretic and on this basis can often lead to dehydration which impacts on our skin, hair and overall health. If you are having that once a week coffee make sure you have it Parisian style with a glass of water alongside, to replenish the fluid you will lose.

Coffee contains caffeine which is classified as a stimulant drug (also present in tea, cola and caffeinated drinks). When too much is drunk blood pressure rises which can leave you feeling anxious and restless. Interesting often we use coffee as a stimulant however it works within our bodies doing the opposite, as it overworks our adrenal glands (our stress hormone producer) leaving us and this important gland feeling tired! Due to it being a stimulant it can therefore be addictive and research has show that the need for a morning coffee makes you ‘feel better’ as it relieves the symptoms of the addiction.

If you are someone who can’t leave the house without a caffeine fix I would really encourage you to look at your diet and stress levels; support your body nutritionally with your 10 portions of fruit and vegetables, exercise or other forms of relaxation i.e. meditation or yoga and water. Replace your coffee with a glass of warm water with a good squeeze of lemon/lime allow this to kick start your body and your taste buds. Follow this with a nice fruit salad with a small handful of almonds! Explore herbal teas such as peppermint, chamomile, nettle and red clover. Also green tea, although it contains caffeine, makes up for this with the antioxidants it contains!

By Andrea Murray of Total Nutrition, BSc (Hons) Nutrition Therapy