I am somewhat of a coffee fiend. Not so much in how many cups I drink per day, but rather in how my body reacts when I fail to introduce caffeine to my blood stream within two hours after waking. I become severely disoriented and it feels like a small crew of miners have taken residency in my brain. So you can imagine my displeasure upon hearing that my coffee-slash-caffeine addiction is wreaking havoc on my hormones.
According to new research, the stimulant alters the estrogen levels in women — and it does so in differing increments, depending on the woman’s race. Come on, caffeine, let’s be an equal opportunity meddler here.
The study, which analyzed women between the ages of 18 and 44, found that caffeinated beverages changed the estrogen levels of white women in a different way than their Asian counterparts. While estrogen lowers in white women, it conversely raises in Asian ladies. Weird. Scientists aren’t sure what causes the difference of effect between races, but they think it has something to do with the role genetics play in metabolizing.
Not to fret, though — the changes in the hormone aren’t substantial enough to harm most women who have the usual cup-a-day. Phew. (via NYTimes)
Are you a super caffeine consumer? Do the benefits outweigh the possible side-effects?
rose / 937 posts
Ever since I had a terribly disgusting Costco-brand iced capp when I was in junior high, I’ve been put off by anything coffee-related.
Wasn’t there a study though about the benefits of caffeine at some point? Ah well, I really can’t be bothered. The only time I consume caffeine is through chocolate (which has caffeine, right?) and rarely green tea, but I always go for the caffeine-free tea offerings and decaffeinated versions unless I am unable to locate something decaffeinated.
guest
I am not yet a ‘super caffeine consumer’, but I feel that once I begin to take more advanced college classes I will begin to be. The fact that my hormones will be affected by consuming large amounts of caffeine will not sway my consumption of it. In fact, I feel having less crazy girl hormones during finals might actually help me obtain better grades :3.
guest
Caffeine is healthy in moderation. Your body should never rely on it though. That’s when you know it’s taking its toll..
guest
I’m irrational and cranky until I have my java.
guest
maybe the metabolic differences have to do with the tradition of drinking tea in Asia? After all, caffeinated beverages didn’t become popular in Europe until the last 200-300 years or so whereas Asians have been drinking caffeinated tea for several thousand years.
ranunculus / 3457 posts
I LOVE coffee, but I have endometriosis, and coffee is poison on my body. It’s really bad for you if you’re a woman to drink it too often.
guest
I can’t get through the day without atleast three cups of coffee. breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
guest
I love coffee but I’ve always been moody. So…
guest
Whew. I just have 1 cup a day, in additional to the piece of chocolate I have 2 or 3 times a week.
guest
I’ve never been crazy for coffee. I just have it once in awhile for the taste. Sometimes having coffee, especially if I haven’t eaten something yet, really fucks up my moods. Strangely enough the last time I had coffee I was severely depressed and irritated the rest of the day. But it could have been a combination of things including the coffee. It’s never healthy to have too much of anything. Plus I think more people should stop meditating themselves with coffee. To some people it’s normal for them to wake up and absolutely NEED coffee but trust me you shouldn’t be feeling that way.
guest
Caffeine is okay. Doesn’t seem to effect me much in terms of giving me lots of hyper energy. The only problem I’ve heard about it is that when it is taken in extreme amounts. Nowadays, with energy drinks, diet pills, coffee and soda we have so much more caffeine out there to be ingested. People can die from taking an excessive amount; that’s a known fact. I bodybuild so I try to avoid caffeine as much as possible because it stimulates the adrenal glands. The adrenaline released somehow reacts to make more cortisol which breaks down muscles. I take a energy supplement before working out… this one I’m taking says a serving contains 325mg. Thats like the only caffeine I get… I definitely notice a little more rush and strength but the mental zone I get into is just awesome. Everyones different but I don’t really see any specific benefit of caffeine either way. The reason why I say that is because it doesn’t really make you healthier. Its just one of those things people take for a specific reason (like me)… or habit. I’m sure many people are chemically dependent on it lol.
guest
This makes me glad that I switched to caffeine free products–even when I drink soda.
guest
When I was 17-into-18yrs old my boss had me working 16hr days …14 days on, 1 day off. I was a coffee addict then. 3 cups in the morning, 1 large cappuccino for lunch, a few cups to make sure I didn’t fall asleep driving home, and then a lot through the night to help my sister with her take home assignments from her college courses. I was never really moody, mostly high-stung and off the walls. Now that I drink water, when I have any bit of caffeine I crave it so much that I get moody for days after/ or till I get it again.
daffodil / 1525 posts
I drink it once a month at most.
rose / 791 posts
Caffeine is my addiction. I drink at least two cups of coffee and three cans of soda a day.
tulip / 20 posts
YES! Another justification for why I don’t drink coffee amidst a large circle of coffee-obsessed friends.
guest
lowers estrogen? bring it!
orchid / 222 posts
“for women of reproductive age, drinking coffee will not alter their hormonal function in a clinically significant way.”
“We don’t know if there are long-term effects of these small shifts in hormonal levels.”
“Further research is warranted
on the association between caffeine and caffeinated
beverages and reproductive hormones and whether these relations differ
by race”.
Does “wreaking havoc” mean something different where you’re from, or did you realize what normal people understand it to mean by the time you wrote “not to fret”?Did you actually read the article/abstract?
guest
I’m glad there’s some basis to what I’ve thought.