Is Your Daily Coffee Run causing Burnout?

Is coffee good or bad for me?  The answer is very individual, right down to our genes.  

Every Monday morning, you go for your customary coffee run, say hi to the same barista and make it into work just in time for that Monday morning meeting.  You sit down and take your first sip of coffee and feel that surge of energy, reassured that you’re finally awake, able to focus and maybe even impress your boss.​

Is coffee good or bad for me?  The answer is very individual, right down to your genes.  Coffee is processed by your liver and there is significant genetic variability, meaning some people are ‘fast metabolizers’ and others are ‘slow metabolizers’.  Understanding how well your liver processes coffee (among other things) is crucial to answering the question - is coffee good or bad for me?

Coffee is full of beneficial antioxidants and minerals, may reduce your risk of type 2 diabetes, regulate your blood sugar and even protect against certain cancers.  But before you reach for that next cup of coffee, consider the flip side.  

Excessive coffee consumption can lead to nutrient deficiencies by inhibiting the absorption of thyroxine (a thyroid hormone), magnesium, zinc and iron.  Iron-deficiency anemia commonly shows as fatigue, anxiety, hair loss, even depression.  Zinc is a helper or cofactor in numerous processes in our body and deficiency can lead to poor immune and sensory function.

Like using jumper cables to kick-start a dead car battery, that cup of coffee is the jumper cable you’re using to kick-start your body every morning.  When your battery doesn’t have anything left, it’s time to replace it.  Only, replacing your body’s battery is not so easy.

Burnt Out?  Always tired?
Trouble getting out of bed?  Lacking motivation?  Getting sick all the time?  Depressed?  ​

Burnout is a clear sign of adrenal exhaustion, that our adrenal glands or battery have been overstimulated by chronic stress, coffee, or other stimulants and have nothing left in them.  The process of replenishing our adrenal glands can often take months to years and result in lost personal and career opportunities. ​

Are symptoms you’re experiencing due to overstimulation leading to adrenal exhaustion?  Is that third cup of coffee getting to be too much for your body?  Want a healthier alternative to coffee?  Feel better now by having your symptoms looked at.  

To properly assess and treat adrenal exhaustion, naturopaths investigate the underlying cause, looking at various contributing factors, including the physical, mental and emotional.  The goal is to replenish the body with the necessary building blocks, to optimize liver metabolism, and to support proper functioning of the adrenal glands.  It is also important to optimize the thyroid and immune system which work closely with the adrenal glands.  
​
A comprehensive treatment plan for adrenal exhaustion could include one or several of the following: 

• Salivary Adrenal Testing
• MTHFR Genetic Testing
• Immune support 
• Stress management techniques
• Acupuncture
• Supplements and herbal formulations 
• Lifestyle and dietary modifications

​By supporting the body with nutrients, and implementing effective stress management techniques, adrenal exhaustion can be prevented.  Find out once and for all if coffee is good or bad for you.  Feel refreshed, more motivated, focused, sharper thinking, and better overall health.