Private Pilot Flight Training and Instruction Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM Coffee Half of the American population is addicted to coffee. 25% drink ten or more cups a day. Quitting coffee is both difficult and painful. At age 71 I dropped coffee primarily to lower my blood pressure. I had a two-week headache. Now I take afternoon naps. The lure and temptation of coffee still exists. Coffee has some negatives: 1. Raises the adrenaline level. 2. Linked to heartburn and ulcers. 3. Leading cause of sleep disturbance. 4. Constricts blood vessels of the eyes. 5. Contains at least five cancer causing compounds. 6. Contains pesticides that are not allowed in the U.S. 7. Contributes to iron loss, zinc loss, and sex drive loss. 8. Increases risk of stroke by increasing blood pressure. 9. Blocks adenosine, a brain chemical that calms you down. 10. Can cause panic attacks by increasing lactate in the body. 11. Can addict babies whose mothers drank during pregnancy 12. In conjunction with diet, cold, anti-depressants will dramatically raise blood pressure. 13. Causes excretion of calcium, potassium, magnesium and sodium before being used by the body due to diuretic effect. Written by Gene Whitt Flight Training Article Library | Back To 4VFR.COM