Crohns & Ground Coffee a match made in heaven or caffeine hell?

I appear to have fallen down a rabbit hole.

I began with writing a piece on caffeine and end up with all kinds of inflammatory bowel diseases. 🤔

My intention was to highlight the effects of Ground coffee on the body.  Specifically the digestive system, it came apparent that there are lots of people out there who just cannot tolerate caffeine.

I suffer occasionally with IBS when I overload on Wheat & Dairy. Having done a little research I’m also maxed out on Coffee (which is a nightmare considering we sell the stuff).

Whilst I’m at it – rant about to happen – why do people dis the decaf?

Why is it that the “coffee snobs”  roll their eyes and decide you are some kind of philistine for asking for a decaf coffee?

My point is (when I get to it ) that Coffee & more specifically caffeine can have a detrimental impact on your health.  If you are already suffering from a debilitating digestive condition then it could make it worse.

Reasons to reduce or ditch the coffee altogether:

1) It makes you go to the toilet more – when you’re already faced with a sensitive bowel the last thing you want is to add to the emergency.

The coffee response can be immediate or it could happen hours after you consume it. Great if you’re constipated but not so good if you are already “loose” in that department.

Researchers found that coffee promotes the release of gastrin, a hormone produced in the stomach and known to increase motor activity in the colon. But the response with decaffeinated was the same as caffeinated coffee so it must be something else.

2) Coffee reduces your ability to deal with stress – when you’re already having to cope mentally & emotionally with a debilitating disease you don’t need caffeine. If you have too much it can lead to restlessness, anxiety, irritability, and sleeplessness.

Caffeine elevates the stress hormones cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. These are the hormones that increase your heart rate and blood pressure and divert blood flow away from other bodily functions, like digestion, to prepare your body for “fight or flight.”

3) Coffee can disturb your sleep pattern – my mother in law always says that “while your body is sleeping it’s healing” at least we agree on one thing 😏

Here’s an easy explanation of why coffee affects our sleep patterns from the National Sleep Foundation

“Because caffeine is a stimulant, most people use it after waking up in the morning or to remain alert during the day. While it is important to note that caffeine cannot replace sleep, it can temporarily make us feel more alert by blocking sleep-inducing chemicals in the brain and increasing adrenaline production”

4) It may also increase chances of a “leaky gut” & trigger the Immune System. 

Or Intestinal permeability. Sounds horrible and the condition becomes very painful very fast.

Coffee beans are seeds which contain protective compounds to prevent digestion, this is how they ensure the survival of the plant species. These same compounds can cause increased intestinal permeability (leaky gut).  Coffee can also cause the immune system to exaggerate inflammation which is why coffee and other seeds are initially eliminated on the paleo autoimmune protocol (AIP).

No Caffeine or Decaffeinated – is there a difference?

“Decaffeinated” does not mean 100% caffeine free. Most ground coffee still has between 5-10% caffeine so be careful on your choice of coffee.

Test the amount of caffeine you drink – if you have an adverse reaction then reduce it or cut it out.

But then that goes for everything we humans do be it relationships, jobs, exercise.

I say  “If it hurts don’t do it” 🤗

Extract from Gutsy by Nature:

Coffee beans are loaded with antioxidants—and we know that antioxidants fight off free radicals that cause damage to our cells, which can age us prematurely and potentially cause a whole host of other health issues. That said, coffee beans do lose some of their antioxidant content through the decaffeination process, but there are still some present, so it’s beneficial all the same. Apart from antioxidants, a cup of decaffeinated coffee has 2.4% of the recommended daily intake of magnesium, 4.8% of potassium and 2.5% of niacin. There are certainly some decaffeinated coffee health benefits.

gutsybynature.com

Extract from The Paleomom:
In a nutshell (er, a coffee bean husk), coffee offers a variety of pros and cons that are extremely context dependent. For many people, coffee is a fine addition to a Paleo diet (especially when consumed in moderation, in filtered form, early in the day, and with a meal rather than on an empty stomach). People with gallbladder problems, who metabolize caffeine more slowly, or who simply experience adverse side effects like an upset stomach or heartburn should proceed with caution where coffee is concerned.
References:
The Paleomom

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From Crazy mother to Crazy Cat Coffee Ltd🤩