On January 17, The Journal of the American College of Cardiology reported an interesting study for those of us given to the occasional double-shot latte at Starbuck?s.? The study showed that exercise after coffee reduced blood flow to the heart by as much as 39% at higher altitudes.? If blood flow to the heart is already limited by disease or deficiency then it might be the thing that creates the environment for a cardiac arrest.? That?s not good!? In fact, many athletes have been directed to drink coffee before competitive events as a ?warm-up? agent.? This study suggests that this might not be good advice for many people.
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I love coffee.? I love the way it feels warmly reaching the back of my throat and finally warming me up from the inside out.? All the while I have had a strong suspicion that the evolving story of coffee would show us that it has a dark side as well.? And I?m not talking about French Roast!!!? The powerful stimulant activity of caffeine can?t be ignored.? Whether the heart effects are from tightening of blood vessels (vasospasm) or just from the nervous system getting too active it pays to consider the impact coffee is having on our whole being.? I would suggest limiting coffee to a couple of cups a day at the very maximum and drinking none at all before strenuous activity.? If in doubt, a cardiac stress test may help to alleviate anxiety better than anything else.
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I am in the process of reducing my coffee intake for many reasons.? The most immediate reason is that my ?coffee-buddy? (Sven) has moved to Oregon to sip the bean in cooler climes.? His absence has decreased my need for social ?drinking.?? Caffeine withdrawal is less of a problem for many people than the social withdrawal of missing the ?coffee klatch? time.? Just as exercise buddies can help with increasing exercise consistency, drinking buddies (coffee or any other drink) can increase the probability of maintaining negative behaviors.? That?s why Alcoholics Anonymous is a successful program.? It replaces old community relationships with a new community that supports the healthy choice of abstaining from a deadly habit.
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I recommend avoiding coffee before a strenuous workout for everybody.? There seems to be no good justification for exposure to that level of risk.? Since the study revealed little impact on cardiac blood flow with low activity or at rest it seems premature to recommend complete coffee abstinence.? Coffee should be consumed in moderation (2 cups a day maximum) without sugar.? I believe that full fat cream is better than any other milk products as long as small amounts are consumed.? Cheers!
