Although coffee enjoys a long history as a favored beverage, the caffeine in coffee may cause certain side effects. Some previous claims of coffee causing health problems, such as cancer and heart disease, remain unsubstantiated. However, drinking coffee can affect your cortisol levels, but there is some controversy regarding the ingredient in coffee that is responsible for increasing cortisol production.
Coffee
Coffee is a natural source of organic acids and caffeine. A moderate intake of coffee seldom produces adverse affects in healthy individuals, although drinking large amounts of coffee may cause various symptoms, including insomnia, anxiety, irritability and restlessness. Caffeine in coffee is the substance that causes many of the symptoms associated with this drink, including a potential increase in cortisol production, according to MayoClinic.com.
Cortisol
Your adrenal glands produce the steroid hormone cortisol, along with adrenalin. Some people refer to these hormones as the fight-or-flight hormones due to the effect they produce on your body. Cortisol helps regulate your energy levels by using your body’s fat stores. Your body responds to stress by releasing more cortisol. Excessive amounts of this hormone may increase your risk of obesity. According to Mayo Clinic, the caffeine in coffee and other beverages may cause your body to produce greater amounts of both adrenalin and cortisol. Dr. Nicholas Perricone advises that it is actually the organic acids, not the caffeine, that leads to an increase in cortisol production. More research may be necessary to clear up this controversy and help determine the exact cause of the increase in cortisol from coffee consumption.
Consumption
Mayo Clinic warns that four to seven cups of coffee per day constitutes heavy caffeine use. Although evidence regarding the risks and benefits of caffeine consumption lack sufficient research, some doctors recommend limiting the amount of caffeine in your diet to no more than 200 mg per day, which equals about 2 cups of regular coffee.
Precautions
Talk to your doctor if you think you may have high levels of cortisol. Although the organic acids or caffeine in your coffee may contribute to excessive cortisol production, certain conditions, including chronic stress, also may affect the way your adrenal glands produce cortisol. If coffee is to blame, your doctor may recommend restricting your caffeine intake by switching to decaffeinated coffee or substituting other beverages to replace this drink in your diet.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Stress Complications
- MayoClinic.com; High Blood Pressure; Donald Hensrud; October 2010
- University of New Mexico; Cortisol Connection: Tips on Managing Stress and Weight; Christine A. Maglione-Garves, et al.
- MayoClinic.com; Nutrition and Healthy Eating; ... Is Coffee Good or Bad For Me?; Donald Hensrud; May 2010
- Daily Perricone; Cortisol – The Death Hormone; Nicholas Perricone; March 2010
