TPM Tidbit: Over Six Weeks of No Coffee and Scared to Try It
August 14, 2012 in TPM Tidbits
It’s hard to believe that six weeks have gone by without a single cup of coffee (see this post on coffee). It still smells so good when my husband has his cup in the morning and there are times (usually in the evening) when just looking at those pretty beans sitting in the coffee grinder makes me crave a cup. But, I’m getting by just fine without it (actually, really enjoying drinking black, green and herbal tea instead). And I’m finding that I’m actually a little scared to try it.
The reason why I’m scared is because I’ve been quite run down lately. This isn’t surprising with a stressful last month with floor repairs, a change in schedule with my oldest starting school, a new exciting project which I will be sharing with you all very soon, and a mild sore throat which means I’m fighting off the cold my youngest has. I’m worried that if I do have a reaction that I will be very ill and there just isn’t room in my life right now for illness. I’m also still in the midst of a lichen planus flare (caused by consuming tomatoes twice nearly two months ago, arg!). I’m worried that coffee could make healing harder.
I still intend to try to reintroduce coffee (or what I like to call “comfort in a cup”). But I think it’s going to need to wait a couple of weeks until I settle into this new routine and heal a little more.
One thing that could make you feel “run down” even if you really shouldn’t feel all that tired: green tea. No kidding. It is so loaded with fluoride that those with a thyroid condition (even a subclinical thyroid condition) should avoid it if at all possible. The high fluoride content can interfere with the proper functioning of the thyroid and can inhibit the conversion of thyroid hormones. It can also adversely affect energy (ATP) production. Be careful with this one!
Thank you! I will look into that! I definitely drink more black and herbal teas than green (don’t drink green every day even), but maybe I’ll try cutting that out and see if it makes a difference.
When you say that you fear a reaction will make you ill, what type of illness are you referring to exactly? And why do you want to avoid it during a flare? Im not questioning you in a negative way at all, just curious, as I also suffer from psoriasis. Is it because coffee can be a gut irritant? I follow the AI protocol to a T and avoid FODMAPS and all that, but coffee is the one thing I just cant and dont want to give up!
I’m scared of a few things. I’m scared of having gastrointestinal symptoms and being unable to leave the house for fear of venturing too far from a bathroom (because it can be a gut irritant). I’m scared that my flare will be even worse if I have a sensitivity to coffee (common cross-reaction to gluten sensitivity). And I’m scared I wont sleep as well as I have been because I’m not getting quite enough sleep, so if that sleep isn’t as deep, I’d be opening myself up to all kinds of issues (because coffee can mess with cortisol). I miss it, but I don’t think I’m quite ready to reintroduce it.
I gave up coffee and tea because I have copper toxicity. Black tea is high in copper and coffee depletes zinc, so neither is a good choice for me. If I overload on copper, I become very fatigued, and I need extra zinc.
I can totally relate. I gave up coffee a few weeks before you with the plan of two weeks off coffee and then trying it. I discovered that I don’t miss it nearly as much as I expected and while I would still love my “comfort in a cup” I am not sure when I will reintroduce it. I too have just been too busy (and traveling too much) to risk the GI upset if that does end up as my reaction. My current plan is to try it one of these days when I have a quiet weekend day that I already plan on spending at home. So maybe some time in September…
I’ve very much been enjoying your blog. I’ve been following wapf principles for over 8 years but a month ago decided to give paleo a try. I have kids 5-10 years old and your blog has been a help. If you like chocolate, I wanted to suggest Choffy! I discovered it a year ago. It’s simply ground, roasted cacao beans brewed in a french press like coffee. Sort of a rich chocolate tea. It’s not sweet so most people like to add a little sweetener, but some do not. I do not have the same health issues as you do, so am not sure if pure cacao might cause you any problems, but our family loves it and it might be that occasional comfort in a cup you miss? I own a small childbirth preparation business and serve it to my clients, who really enjoy it, especially if they gave up coffee for their pregnancy. http://www.drinkchoffy.com/inspired if you want to learn more. Thanks for sharing your journey with others!
Sounds delicious! Chocolate has alot of phytic acid so I try not to have too much, but I’m okay with a little. Plus, I happen to have a bunch of raw cocoa beans in my pantry. Suppose I can roast and grind them myself?
I am following the AIP including NO COFFEE. I am really struggling with it though… I LOVE my coffee! I miss it. The other issue is after I eat I would usually have coffee,. now when I’m done eating i just dont feel satisfied. I actually find myself eating more to try to get that feeling.. I am doing the AIP for RA. Is coffee that bad? I’m ok w/o all the rest of the stuff…
Sorry,. yes I am whining.
I still haven’t reintroduced coffee and I still miss it. When my husband makes his coffee in the morning, my mouth waters at the smell. But, at the same time, it’s easier not to drink it now than it was. It might be bad and it might not be. It’s very individual, so you can try it again in a few weeks. Have you tried one of the herbal coffee substitutes? elenaspantry.com has a good one that is chicory and dandelion root.
I have not tried those other drinks. If they are healthy and AIP I will give it a try. Thank you for your quick response.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you and your daughter