Coffee? Or No Coffee?

I saw a post out on the Main Board concerning Coffee/ Caffeine And the majority of the responses were (as usual) Limited to- "Well, what I heard was..." Or simple, "My Doc says No, But I have it anyway…." I’m rarely one that shrinks from - Too-Much-Information, So thought I’d share here for any who were curious… [Sorry to pass on a re-post from my past, but, saves a lot of typing] Coffee? Or No Coffee? Many Dr.’s advise against it. I’ve seen this question a number of times- Why No Caffeine? And the responses are incredibly varied. Some will say that it "Stimulates Appetite!" And yet it was/is the major ingredient in most diet aids to reduce hunger. The "sweetness" of a Diet Soda may stimulate the appetite, But Caffeine, in and of itself, is an appetite suppressant. Although Caffeine IS a MILD Diuretic, It is often presented without the "Mild," And its powers to dehydrate us are often Overstated. Yes, it does contribute to dehydration but not at A level that is significantly higher Than talking a walk Or being exposed to "Air Conditioned" Air For a prolonged time. A 1999 study in the Canadian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology looked at the effects of high- dose pre-exercise caffeine ingestion in two separate double-blind trials with trained runners (all male) and found no significant impact on hydration at all. I wanted the "Absolute End All Info" from my surgeon And his explanation was this- "It’s not so much the Dehydration issue that causes me to Advise people to give up caffeine prior to their surgery, but The negative impact it has on Healing and the formation of Scar tissue." Whhhaaaaaaat? Yep, Caffeine constricts the capillaries, Those smallest of the small little Tubes in our circulation system. It is in the capillaries that the exchange between the blood And the cells of the body takes place. Here the blood releases its oxygen and takes on carbon dioxide, Except in the lungs, where the blood picks up oxygen And releases carbon dioxide. In the special capillaries of the kidneys, The blood gives up many waste products In the formation of urine. Capillary "beds" are also the sites where white blood cells Are able to leave the blood And defend the body against harmful invaders. Capillaries are so small That when you look at blood flowing through them Under a microscope, The cells have to pass through in single file. When these capillaries constrict, All of these activities are reduced. Even though Caffeine is a "Vasodilator," (a substance that causes blood vessels, deeper in the body To become wider by relaxing the smooth muscle in the vessel wall) That is only the larger veins and arteries, Caffeine is one of the few Vasodilators, (along with the herb- feverfew) That has the exact opposite effect On the small blood vessels- Capillaries. Since the area of a trauma or cut need extra Blood/oxygen/food exchanges in order to heal the tissue, Anything that constricts the capillaries Slows the production of new tissue- Healing. It is the same with nicotine. Someone who smokes and Consumes even moderate amounts of caffeine, "Heals" or generates new tissue 40% to 60% slower Than those who do not. This also accounts for the less elastic and more wrinkled skin Or those who smoke and consume caffeine. Doing a little extra internet and library research- There are numerous other Bad things about caffeine, such as- A significant association between caffeine And decreased bone mineral density. (however, this is off set by just one serving of milk per day)

In Pregnancies, mal-formations in fetus, And prior to becoming pregnant, caffeine reduces fertility rates. (However, these effects have only been seen in rats And no Human studies have ever been sited as conclusive) The list of- "Bad, but not too bad…." Goes on and on. Caffeine, it seems, is one of the most studied of Compounds that we humans take into our bodies And the effects, Other than the Constriction of Capillaries, Is marginal and in nearly every study, rides the fence of What could be considered "Significant." Even the constriction of the Capillaries In combination with it’s mild Vasodilator effects, Are a Good Thing, If you are trying to reduce The symptoms of a Migraine headache. Since my Doc is a Bariatric Surgeon, I asked specifics as to how it would effect my Pouch. Once again, it’s a "Fence Sitter." Yes, coffee is a mild irritant to the pouch and should be avoided early on. But, It’s not the caffeine. It’s the mild acids from coffee that are present even in De-Caf, so switching to De-Caf for it’s benefits on pouch irritation Is a little like switching from Bourbon to Scotch So you can Drive home safely from the party. Just some "Food for Thought" about caffeine- It’s the only "psycho-active substance" That We, in fact every country on the planet, Regularly dispenses to children. Cokes, chocolate, etc… Although sites touting the "Benefits of Caffeine" (see below) All include the persuasive fact that it is "Natural" "Occurring in Nature" and some how this makes it "Not a Drug." The THC active ingredient in marijuana Also fits this bill as does nicotine, But we would be hard pressed to think of them as "Safe" because of that fact. There’s an excellent link to-Energy Fiend.- http://www.energyfiend.com/the-caffeine-database/ That tells how much caffeine is in which drinks and foods. And an exceptional source for information About caffeine can be found at- http://coffeefaq.com/caffaq.html It’s sort of a compilation of EVERYTHING- Pro and Con, to be found about caffeine. Are there some benefits of caffeine? Other than the "boost" to the nervous system Often helpful while making a long drive home at night, Other benefits have been touted, ranging from – Lowering incidence in Parkinson's disease, Its association with lowered incidence of Alzheimer's Disease, And, even the reduction of gallstone formation associated with caffeine use. The benefits here were all in literature published by The "good people" of Vivarin, a Caffeine tablet, and so The research or at least the "interpretation of it Is a little suspect. Sort of like "The Benefits of Tobacco" As presented by Phillip Morris Co.. Do be on guard and take a "Grain of Salt" with a lot of the "Caffeine Information" to be found on the Web. Such sites as-"Everything You Need to Know About Caffeine" Are publications of the International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation Which is an "informational organization funded by the beverage Industry. Sort of a "Public Lobby Group," that "spins" information In a positive light for those who fund the publications. In other words- Highly specialized advertisement. As to the Metabolic benefits? A study published in this July’s edition of "Neuropsychobiology" – http://content.karger.com/ProdukteDB/produkte.asp?Aktion=Jou rnalHome&ProduktNr=224082 Has found that sustained caffeine use Has No significant enhancing effects on performance Or mood and does not provide a restorative effect after poor sleep. Caffeine got your tongue? A new study suggests caffeine— Potentially because of how it interacts with neurons in the brain— Might actually hinder your short-term recall of certain words. "tip-of-the-tongue (TOT) phenomenon" where you Know something But the name or fact "escapes you" just for a bit- ""You know! What’s his name! I can believe I can remember it right now." This slip between long-term memory and short term recall May be caused by too much caffeine. Article at- http://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug04/caffeine.html So, It’s clearly not a Black and White issue But then again few things are. But this long ramble about caffeine? I saw a question about "Why No Coffee?" out on the main board, And I had already gotten in one cup too many this morning. I guess that the other reason to avoid- You could end up writing yard-long posts on the Board! Best Wishes- Dx