That Morning Cup o’ Joe can do more than cheer you up: it could destroy you

With a Starbucks on just about every block, and “extra iced milkshake skim mocha” a standard way to order an afternoon drink, it’s not always easy to remember what we drank before the caffeine of Manhattan. . With a couple of cups of java alone to get you started in the morning and a double espresso to help you focus in the afternoon, coffee is becoming synonymous with energy. And New York is all about energy.

But is it good for us?

Symptoms of excessive caffeine use include depression, anxiety, restlessness, upset stomach, nausea, and vomiting. Moderate to heavy coffee consumption can even lead to heart disease. Addiction to sugary coffee drinks or sweet fizzy drinks can also lead to extreme mood swings or even diabetes.

Coffee can also cause a rise in stress hormones, according to Stephen Cherniske, author of “Caffeine Blues.” Every time we drink coffee, the adrenal gland produces adrenaline, the same thing that happens when we are afraid or angry. After a prolonged period of excessive caffeine consumption, the adrenal gland has no more adrenaline to produce. This leads to chronic fatigue, constant exhaustion, and susceptibility to illness. Dr. James D. Lane, who studied caffeine for 15 years, discovered that the stress hormones produced by a cup of coffee did not leave the participant’s body for up to 24 hours after consumption.

“If your diet is out of balance, you’ll need another pick-me-up, after your cup of coffee, to get that adrenaline back up,” says Manhattan-based Dr. Craig Fishel. Most people reach for a cookie or piece of chocolate after their skim. precisely because of that.

Caffeine is a substance found naturally in the leaves, seeds, fruits, and nuts of more than 60 different plants, and is added to foods and many over-the-counter medications. It is absorbed and distributed very quickly in the body; it goes directly to the central nervous system or brain. Often combined with large amounts of sugar in drinks, caffeine can be hard for some people to give up.

“I had headaches for a week after I stopped drinking coffee,” says retired New Yorker Bill Choney.

Eighty-five percent of all Americans drink coffee on a daily basis, according to the Duke University Medical Center, whether they want it or not. “Caffeine is similar to nicotine in its addictive properties,” says Feishel.

But the caffeine can kick it.

“The best way to quit caffeine is to replace half of your morning drink with a decaf alternative, gradually decreasing the caffeinated portion,” says Fishel.

Sometimes giving up coffee brings quite unexpected results.

“My taste buds became more sensitive after giving up coffee,” says Nina Mineyeva, a manager at Ernst & Young. “I discovered a whole world of herbal teas and other delicious beverages, instead of just mechanically gulping down coffee.”

Since everyone has a different tolerance level for caffeine, the key is knowing where to draw the line and how to get that New York rush of energy while staying healthy, physically and emotionally.

Here are some ideas to help beat cuppajoe jones.

Take natural supplements with anti-inflammatory properties to lower your risk of heart disease: Turmeric, an herb used as a spice in many Indian dishes, has a compound called curcumin with strong anti-inflammatory properties; ginger root is a spice with many medicinal properties, including being anti-inflammatory; Omega-3 fatty acids, like those found in deep-sea fish, have been shown to reduce inflammation.

There are coffee alternatives in New York. Try going to your local health food store to try multiple varieties of herbal teas. You can also experiment with chicory and barley root drinks. As always, don’t forget to hydrate yourself by drinking water.