Caffene Question

OK, I stopped drinking regular coffee last May. I didn't have any until about a month and a half ago when I had a 16oz with 1/2 reg and 1/2 decalf. Well in the meantime, I've had to start taking extra iron because I'm borderline Anemic. Well you know that all that Iron does to you so I've been trying to get in some extra fiber. Well I just can't eat enough to get the fiber I need and have been having a tuff time (you know what I mean without getting too graphic ). Well another WLS friend on another site recommended that I drink some regular coffee to help me go. Well it worked!!! I feel so much better. So I'm thinking that maybe I should drink a cup of regular coffee every other day or so to keep me going. Someone please remind me of the caffeene rules. Do you think I'll be OK drinking that much regular coffee? I don't want to have to resort to using softeners or laxatives. I figure the less pils I have to subject my pouct to the better off I'll be in the long run. Oh by the way, only 9 more pounds till I'm a onesie!!!

Dee, Congrats on the wonderful weight loss. I am not sure of the docs stance on caffeine these days. I was told to avoid it, and I stayed away from it for a LONG time. Now I have a cup of coffee/tea every once in a while. Don't do it too often cause I am concerned that it may be a cause of ulcers in a post op. Something you may want to consider ... there seems to be some thought that the tannins in both coffee and tea interfer with iron absorbtion. That may be something you may want to research further to find out for yourself. Here is some stuff I pulled right off the hat. I am sure you can find much more in support as well as against these findings. If it were me, at the very least, I would not take my iron (or any other vitamins for that matter) anywhere near the time I drank the coffee. According to Wellness and You - http://www.sodexho-hc-wellness.com/dietitian.html "The best sources of iron for a non-op include meat, especially beef. Chicken, pork, and whole eggs also supply a fair amount of this mineral. The iron from animal sources (heme iron) is much better absorbed by the body than iron from plant sources (non-heme iron). Dried beans, leafy greens, dried fruits and fortified cereals all provide good amounts of iron. However, it is best to include foods rich in vitamin C at each meal to enhance the absorption on non-heme iron. Good sources of vitamin C include oranges or orange juice, green pepper, cantaloupe, and broccoli. There are certain substances which can inhibit iron absorption including tannins found in coffee or tea, and oxalic acid which is found in spinach and chocolate." Healthnotes: http://www.raleys.com/cfapps/healthnotesra/healthnotes.cfm?org=raleys&ContentID=1968006#Benefits-Concerns "Iron-deficiency anemia Black tea contains tannins that strongly inhibit the absorption of non-heme iron (e.g., iron from non-animal sources). This iron-blocking effect is so strong that drinking black tea can help treat hemochromatosis, a disease of iron overload." Veggieboards (Vegitarian) http://www.veggieboards.com/boards/printthread.php?t=5931 "People who drink green tea have significantly lower risks of some diseases, e.g. cancer, heart disease, and stroke. Both green and black tea inhibit the intestinal absorption of non-heme iron (iron from non-animal sources), but black tea tannins seem to be more potent. Green tea extracts have been shown to reduce the ability of humans to utilise dietary iron, but they have a higher contents of polyphenols / tannins, because these are the agents likely to prevent diseases. The advice to add lemon or milk to tea during meals has been refuted. It is better to enjoy your tea in between meals. There is one Swiss study by Hurrell, RF in Br J Nutr. 1999 Apr;81(4):289-95, but they only tested black tea against coffee, cocoa, and herbal infusions (teas like camomile, vervain, lime flower, peppermint) and not against green tea. All tested substances inhibited iron absorption, black tea had the highest rate. There is also a study from Maroc, Hamdaoui, M in Ann Nutr Metab. 1994;38(4):226-31, which addresses the issue: "Concentrations of 300, 200 and 100 micrograms/ml of black tea decreased dramatically nonheme iron bioavailability from couscous, but 50 micrograms/ml did not influence iron absorption. The inhibition of nonheme iron from couscous varied from 36 to 61% with black tea and 30.5% with green tea." Conclusions: If you already have problems getting enough iron, prefer green tea to black tea and drink it in between meals, add vitamin C rich drinks or foods to your meals to enhance iron absorption." Here is some more interesting notes on caffeine, although this particular article is specific to pregnancy, it does not preclude us posties. http://www.lambtonhealth.on.ca/pregnancy/healthybeginnings/caffeine.asp Dee, I sure do hope you get this all sorted out soon. You need to stay on top of those iron levels. For those that may not be familiar with the symptoms of anemia check this out http://www.healthscout.com/ency/68/112/main.html#SymptomsofAnemia About your reason for drinking coffee in the first place. I have not had that problem, but I have always eaten prunes (chewed well) but the dietition at PMRI slapped me on the wrists for it. Said we posties should not eat dried fruit. I have not had a problem with it and the alternative seems to me to be the worse of two "evils". Oatmeal, flaxseed and healthy oils are all a part of my diet as well that I feel help keep my body moving smoothly (pun intended) Best wishes Dee! Tammy

Hey Tammy, Congratulations on your two year anniversary! Awesome journey. Your bud, Rob

Rob, Thanks so much for thinking of me. I am blessed to have such a good friend. Yes, it truly has been an awesome journey. We are all so very blessed to be given this second chance. I intend to continue to live my new life to the absolute fullest (that I can muster) - in honour of my dearly loved surgeons/family and friends who stepped up and out to help dig me out of my early grave/wheelchair. I was not able to do it on my own, and yet there were others who believed in me and pulled for me. For that I am eternally grateful. Try as I might, mere words can not begin to express my gratitude to each and everyone of them/you. God has blessed me beyond belief. *Holding up her protein mug* - "Here's to many, many more years of truly living for each and every one of us!" Hugs, Tammy

Happy two years my twin! How are you? I can't believe you are out two years that is awesome. I hope to see you soon. Debbie

Dineen, I don't know much but here is what I have been told about caffeine There are three main reasons to stay away from caffeine. 1 - Caffeine has been known as a appetite stimulant. Which means it may make you feel like you want to eat more. This goes back to the issue of head hunger vs. real hunger. It can confuse the two. 2 - Caffeine is also a diuretic. This can lead to a loss of fluids. Most people will count their caffeine drinks in their daily amount of fluids, which cannot be counted in your daily fluid in take. For every 8 oz. of caffeine drink you are supposed to drink 8 oz. of additional water, to cancel out the fluid loss. 3 - Caffeine has also been shown to inhibit the absorbation of protein. Hope this helps. Kevin

Thank you guys for your very informative replys. I think I'll try drinking 1 8oz cop of coffee every 2nd day or so. I'll switch my calcium/iron pills (now I take iron in morning and calcium in afternoon) and drink my coffee first thing in the morning. I really believe that the benefits of getting my system moving regularly outweigh the bad things about caffene. This business of only going every 4-5 days really sucks!!! You have no idea how much better I felt after that cup of coffee the other day. Softeners and laxatives really do a number on my insides (cramping) so I want to avoid them at all costs! This is probably TMI, but I was really getting miserable!