About three weeks ago I made the decision to stop drinking coffee. I would average a pot a day, far above the "one cup a day" that I read so many citizens would drink.
What you need to know is that MY coffee is described by family and friends as "sludge." I like it strong, and never add sweetener or creamer of any kind. I heard a phrase years ago that I quote when someone asks me if I need to add anything.
" If you put anything in it, it's not coffee anymore."
Something else. In my hunt for weight loss knowledge I read that not only does caffeine exacerbate depression, it also makes it harder for the body to shed pounds! Sites like Savvy-fat-burning-food dot com report that caffeine encourages the body to store glucose due to elevated blood glucose levels that it causes.
But it also burns more calories by increasing metabolism! I have heard of bodybuilders consuming coffee before their workouts. I have also learned that coffee gives the drinker a boost in mood, in spite of what researchers had previously reported.
?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
And I haven't covered the cardiac effects yet. Since I have had a history of high blood pressure it seems to me that a heavy intake of coffee with a way-above-normal level of caffeine would be a bad idea.
Add to this the recent loss of my hero, my father-in-law, Magdaleno Ybarra, and it seemed the time had come to find a substitute.
So, I am trying green tea. I add some sucrolose, after what I learned about the evils of aspartame, and it really is not all that bad. It has caffeine, but not nearly the amount that MY coffee had, so I felt it was a good choice. Of course, I am learning some stuff about sucrolose as well. Sites such as BodyTechnician dot com report that sucrolose
" Can Cause These Symptoms
Abdominal pain, achiness, back pain, chest tightness, dizziness, eye pain, fibromyalgia, headache, joint pain, leg cramps, loss of equilibrium, migraine, numbness & tingling of hands & feet, shooting pains in extremities, swallowing pain, tingling, unsteady gait, weakness, more."
Huh? I must tell you that at least some of the negative stuff about sucrolose, Splenda in particular, is being reported by studies funded by the sugar industry.
But I digress.
Here is the real problem I am having, and is what prompted my writing of this article.
You are all aware of my love for words and the writing of them. Since I stopped drinking my "sludge' I have confirmed what I have always suspected- that my writing is coffee-driven.
I would put on a pot of coffee, usually around 0200 or 0300, very early in the morning, and go to my office and fire up the laptop. By the time the coffee was done and I sat down with my piping hot cup of it my computer would have been warmed up and ready for action. Words flowed like a river.
With green tea, not so much.
The words flow like molasses in winter, like my muse was blind, stinking drunk. At best, the speed of my inspiration reminded me of a diesel engine I worked on once upon a time that had gotten water and dirt in the fuel.
It spat and sputtered- znzn dufden fft!! znzn dufden fft!! znzn dufden fft!!- but had ran well enough for the driver to get it back to the shop where I worked as a mechanic.
Oh, but the smell of fresh brewed coffee! Mmmm, oh yes!!
Blank stare, smirk to grin to full-on smile, the beginnings of a drool-bomb ...
(Sorry, had a moment there, something of a flashback). Um, uh ... What was I saying? Oh yea!
It seems to me that what needs to happen is a return to coffee with a dramatic decrease in the amount consumed.
I think I can do that.
Ken McCreless is just a guy who loves to write. No dazzling website or publishing milestones, just a love for words and a respect for the power they wield. Contact him at ken@kenmccreless.com
Good article and good information, Ken. I love the smell of coffee, especially before it is brewed, but I can't stand the taste. I drink way to much Coke Classic - well, actually only one can a day...the rest of the time I drink Coke Zero. Yep, filled with aspartame. I'm working on drinking tap water...baby steps!
Baby steps, indeed! The absolute best way to tackle a difficult change. Hey, if it works for Bill Murray, (What about Bob?),it will work for us, right?
I do love the smell of coffee, but the taste is what I need!!
Yeah, Lorrie I was amazed by a demonstration that shows what soda, sports drinks and energy drinks can do to the system. Not pretty. Keep going. You can do it!
Ken, I liked this article a lot. Unfortunately I have reached an age where I had to give up both coffee and tea. But I have memories an they can't take them away from me. Thanks for the memories. JP
What a great conversational article! Stick with coffee if it helps you write but I suspect tea would offer you the same writing "help" after some time. Unless a doctor tells you to quit I'd stick with it, in moderation. I worked nights for YEARS and coffee was a standard to help us get by....keep on writing I enjoy listening to your honest from the heart views, rants, opinions etc...........
Well said, Captain Ken. (Still going with Connor's pirate theme) Personally, I gave up coffee years ago. Does a lot of bad things to the body, but so does soda, sports drinks, alcohol, and energy drinks, all which we avoid. Actually, our family drinks pretty much just oxidized water and the occasional fruit juice. Best diet under the sun. Has healed my stomach, heart, and head. A miracle, really. Great article.
Yes, it's actually ionized / oxidized to inhibit toxins and acidic build up. I'm addicted. Never felt better. It's not cheap ($4000 for the machine) but it's damn worth it. It's the fountain of youth ;=)
I actually looked into that. Seems suspicious to me, as the body will always bring whatever is consumed into a neutral state, that is, will adjust the acidity to match that which is already there. I would not buy it, myself.
Hmmm, not sure about that. The tast alone has me hooked. Smooth and fine. But the feeling? Amazing. It's cured so many ailments I'm flabbergasted. As they say, proofs in the pudding.
Ken, what are we going to do with you writing all these great articles? I agree with what you have brought to light, but add that chemically made artificial sweetners are most likely alright to use but in moderation. I say mix it all up by drinking black coffee and tea but aim for some moderation. Like you stated, I believe it has been proven that black coffee is an excellent antioxidant and serves as a great stimulant to the brain. Since trying to cut back on coffee, I have found that the body is wanting to switch off more between black tea and black coffee. I believe their effects may be close to the same but black tea also has the proven ability to lower the cortisol level within one hour after drinking it. Without a doubt, green tea is something that is very, very good for you, including an aid to weight loss. There is also a great recipe out there for "green-tea punch."
Also, a new sweetner by the name of "Stevia" that is plant (herbal) based has been out for a few years. If my health-food store carries it, then I know it is safe. Coca Cola will introduce a special version of Sprite in New York and Chicago in 2009, as well as two flavors of their juice drink Odwalla with Stevia sweetener added. Pepsi plans to use Stevia in a zero calorie Sobe Lifewater and a Tropicana Orange drink, promising half the calories of orange juice.
Thank you, Suzy. I am humbled at your very kind comment.
I have not heard of Stevia, (sounds like a suburb of Cleveland, or something!), but will likely just stick to good old sugar. Time tested and not so calorie-laden as I had thought. Of course, stepping up on the exercising will do wonders, I'm sure!
Ken! green tea-really??? I am impressed with your drive to give up coffee, but I can not imagine writing without it!! That being said, i go the sweet n low route, my mom always said i will be the first to die because of all the "cancer" i was consuming. Sometimes, we just have to take risks! Cute article, thanks for sharing!
It can be done. I used to be addicted to coffee like Ken. I'd buy the beans, grind them up, have 2-3 cups in the a.m. before work, 2-3 at work (I worked for Braun. Yes, the coffee maker makers!), then a couple more in the afternoon. Not good for the ticker, dries up the bones, add amazing amounts of acid to the system, carcinogenic, on and on. I'm off the drug, but like any addiction, it takes time. You can do it!
Hilarious Ken, just hilarious! I don't know, my wife has gotten me on a green tea kick, but the taste of coffee gives it the edge, at least in my opinion. Thanks for this delightful read Ken.
That's the thing about an addiction of any kind - it takes a while to work through the withdrawals. Your adrenal gland is used to a regular dosage of caffeine, so quitting cold-turkey is going to be a downer. Slowly weaning yourself is probably the better way to go. Use it when you need to, but try to get by without it when you can. You'll save yourself some health issues in the long run. But keep writing... I enjoy what you have to say.
Ken, I can smell the aroma of the coffee now. No, do not fill it to the rim with brim. I just want the good old fashion stuff that the neighbors can wake up on. So far I have not gotten into the milk, sugar, and the rest of the stuff to dilute it. Thanks Ken..."drool-bomb"...
But don't you know there is a study for *everything*? :-) Someone always has something bad to say about everything you'll eat or drink. If there's a product, there are studies to both say it's wonderful and tell you that you'll not only get cancer if you drink it, but your children's offspring will have a third eye.
I say, enjoy your coffee. In moderation, of course. For that matter, I'm on my way to the coffee house now. (Of course, the stuff I drink isn't *real* coffee...I put stuff in mine. :-))
Ummmm.. yes Ken.. I very well know what you mean.. I only allow myself two cups in the mornings, but the words always flow better when there is a steaming cup beside me. I now have gone so far as to purchase a small cup warmer so my two cups can last for hours!!!
Great article with good information and a writing style that I have to say that I thoroughly love. I'll honestly admit that when I began reading I had thought it was just "another one of those articles" I had read on SearchWarp before. I'm glad I was oh-so-wrong.
By the way, the drunken muse part was my favorite, I certainly have to add that.
My apologies. I read this when you first wrote it and thought I had responded. I swear I did but it isn't in there so I'm reading it again. I drink a pot of coffee a day as well but my blood pressure is so low that I could use a lift! However, I digress as well. Don't cut it out completely, just cut back. Tea is good -- especially Oolong -- and I like it now and then but there is nothing like the smell of a java brew first thing in the morning.
I'm really not surprised that your creative juices weren't in gear. The question is, is it getting better? By the way, my dad told me last week that decaffinated coffee is now the enemy. I suggest we forget all this nonsense and just let be to let be.
Thanks for sharing. I really enjoyed this and again, sorry I didn't respond sooner.
Thanks for your coffee article. Seems as though most people have the same problem trying to write without their coffee. I really enjoyed how you described your struggle as I am on a parallel path. Thanks for sharing and thanks for writing an article to which it is so easy to identify. You truly do practice the early to rise habit as well.
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