Love Coffee? Check out the ups and downs of coffee drinking

We all have those mornings when we feel as though we cannot move an inch without our cup of hot goodness. Whether it is a cup of black tea, or a cup of coffee, we all have our own ways of getting our caffeine fix.

Coffee has its benefits, as well as its risks. Therefor it’s up to you to decide whether to grab the coffee grinds or the teakettle in the morning. Here’s what you need to know.

Coffee can do some pretty great long-term things for your body. It can help prevent diseases such as stroke, certain cancers, boosts concentration, memory and more. Caffeine is a mild stimulant, which can give your tank a little extra fuel throughout the day. The stimulant benefits are also known to lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

There are some negative aspects to coffee under certain circumstances. For those who have high blood pressure, a stimulant is not a good idea. Excessive caffeine may also have a negative effect on those with anxiety, insomnia and heartburn.

In moderation, coffee is harmless: A cup or two before a workout can give you a healthy boost and improve your performance. A bit before work or school in the AM can help clear your morning grogginess.

Despite these benefits, caffeine is addictive and users can easily become dependent on it and have a hard time cutting back or switching to an alternative source of energy. Some who quit coffee suffer from headaches and fatigue until the body adjusts.

Do you have acid reflux or are prone to heartburn? Then coffee is a big no! Coffee has a lot of acid and can upset the stomach and chest if you are sensitive. Switching to decaf will not solve the problem, as it has the same amount of caffeine.

So the choice is yours!! If you like the flavor, and the comfort of your morning routine calls for that fresh brew, then enjoy with moderation. If you feel you cannot function without it, you overindulge, or you feel the acidic side effects, then cutting back or finding an alternative is a good idea.

Drinking Tea To Manage Daily Stress

Often times we think of drinking tea to sleep better at night or relaxing during stressful times. The more popular teas like chamomile tea is the industry standard during stressful times and you can usually find this tea in several stores throughout the country. The popularity of drinking tea is becoming more common because of the recent research linked to the unhealthy habit of drinking coffee, which is leading  more people to drinking tea as a daily alternative. Many people have yet to discovered all of the healing benefits to drinking tea as a daily ritual rather you are under stressful situations or not. Popular activities known for stress relief such as meditation, yoga, and exercise are great to include in your stress relief regimen. We now know that adding tea drinking to your daily list of regimens is also a great benefit to combat stress. Managing your first signs of stress is important to long term success. You may notice there are different types of stress you can experience within your lifetime i.e. eustress, neustress, distress, and acute stress some of it is good stress that you cannot avoid and some is considered bad stress that can cause chronic illness over time. Below is a list to consider when purchasing tea as an alternative to stress relief.

Black Tea-Reduces cortisol levels which can keep stress at bay

Valerian Tea-Natures natural soothing agent which is the best tea for relief from tension

Kava Kava-The best tea to reduce anxiety and stress

Green Tea-Powerful antioxidant green tea packs but is also known to be very effective in reducing stress due to the L-Theanine found in green tea which is a natural stress reliever.

Stress is organized into several categories and measured based on their individual effectiveness on the person. The idea that you can eliminate stress is basically unrealistic but to learn how to manage stress just by exercising alternative remedies could be the answer. Drinking tea during times of high stress is the answer to your body responding in a natural way. Tea can actually speed up the recovery of daily stress and is often known to reduce stress hormones levels back to normal.  Further research is still being conducted to understand the link between drinking tea and actually healing your body and mind. At least it’s great to know you are only a cup away from getting relief. You may also take a closer look at the benefits to drinking tea as a stress reliever http://www.stress-relief-resources.com/herbal-stress-relief.html.