Coffee and Your Skin

I love the smell of coffee. However, I haven’t actually ever been a BIG coffee drinker. About a year ago though, I completed the 9 week Dr Libby Weaver Weight Loss for Women course, and followed her advise at the start of the course to take coffee out of my diet.

The reason I started the course, was to learn how to eat better. Be healthier. Live better. I don’t eat a lot of junk food. VERY rarely drink soft drink. I don’t smoke. Generally, most would think I don’t have a bad diet. However, I wanted to do it EVEN better. I wanted to learn to NOURISH my body.

Something I was becoming VERY aware of, was the feeling of adrenaline that I would get coming into work. I had had an hour in the car, having picked up my coffee for the drive, and I would literally feel as though I was about to jump off a cliff when I walked into the clinic. I was “wired” - on one cup of coffee! I knew enough to know that this wasn’t (and shouldn’t) be normal.

I still enjoy a cup of coffee, however I’m much more aware of my body now. When I do indulge, I am a half strength girl. And I definitely don’t have any caffeine after 10am. It’s a treat to me now, rather than a lifestyle.

Studies show that caffeine stimulates, at rest, adrenaline and cortisol, our stress hormones. So, on top of our lifestyle and ‘perception of urgency’, we are also creating more ‘feelings of fight or flight’ when our body doesn’t require, or need them.

Having your body constantly in stress mode (via coffee, or any other means) will sympathetically take nutrients away from ‘non life dependent’ systems of your body - you need your heart to beat, your hair can suffer.

Obviously, if we have a stressful event happen in our life (like running from a cranky dog) this is perfectly fine, and the way we survive as humans. However, do that to your body day in, and day out, your skin, hair, nails, and reproductive system will inevitably be seriously effected.

So what does this mean for your skin in particular? No, or very limited nutrients to your skin will essentially mean that your skin won’t be working as it should. Cell turnover becomes more sluggish, skin becomes dull, with slower healing rates. We may see congestion, fine lines and wrinkles exacerbated by both decreased collagen and elastin production and dehydration.

WHAT!?!?! No more coffee!!!!!

No. I’m saying that. However, if you want to give it a go, I highly encourage it. However, for now, what can you do?

Be aware of your body. Check in. Do you need that next one?

Try an alternative. Could you have a herbal tea? I love The Healthy Chef Chai Latte with Nutty Bruce almond and coconut milk.

If you are feeling stressed, I would say try your best to avoid coffee for a while (that is for another post). However, using the breath is an amazing way to tell the body that it is not in a stressful situation. A full exhalation and inhalation with your eyes closed will immediately give your body the message to relax, and will create a moment for your hormones to have a change to come back down to balanced.

Enjoy the coffee when you do have it. Use mindfulness to really be aware of how you are feeling during and after you enjoy it. Are you better or worse for it?

Want to know more? I recommend Dr Libby Weaver’s course and also her new book The Beauty Guide.

Locally, in both the Burdekin and Townsville, there are some amazing women and men doing great things; teaching about food and nutrition and providing dietary support. I would highly recommend you look to your local business for knowledge, encouragement and support.

For now, I’m off to enjoy an organic chai latte on coconut and almond milk. Yummm

#AgeingWell #SkinHealth #SkinTips