Hi all. I have done quite a bit of surfing around looking for information about caffeine......specifically coffee (caf OR decaf)
I have found information, but, I would like to know what the experts have learned. The "experts" being all of us right here, living this lifestyle every day of our lives. Yes, I have been doing this for five years, but, I find that there is SO much to learn about the low carb lifestyle. I have seen posts on this forum already that have REALLY made me think! I am enjoying this immensely and learning so much.

SO, here is the question: While I know that everyone is different, what is it about coffee, EVEN DECAF, that seems to cause problems for some people when it comes to weight loss?
I have researched and found that caffeine itself can cause abdominal weight gain because it increases cortisol levels, especially for women. Do you agree with this? If so, why does it seem that switching to decaf doesn't help?
What are the arguments for or against coffee (caf OR decaf), and for or against caffeine? I would love to hear any and all input. I can't wait to learn from you all!

Mary

I have known people who stall if they drink caffeinated beverages.

It doesn't seem to have any effect on me. When I first started, I drank coffee, remained in ketosis and lost 20 lbs my first month.
some people are really sensitive to the effects of caffeine and fake sugars. Luckily, I'm not one of them.

I'm working on getting answers about caffeine as we speak, Mary. Some people claim it raises their blood sugar levels and stalls their weight. I haven't experienced this personally, so I'm asking some low-carb researchers about it. I'll let you know what they say.

Jimmy, it is uncanny how you are always researching something about the time I go looking for more indepth answers

I wonder about the affects of the theobromine in coffee and tea, etc. How do people know if they are sensitive? Can it stop weight loss, etc.? Not just the caffeine issue.

Even decaf seems to be a problem for some people. How and why can that be?

I have always heard that caffeine can make people eat more (because of lowered blood sugar), but what about those who DON'T eat more, and still have a problem because of coffee?

I went completely decaf for almost a year. I now drink caffeine. It really doesn't make a difference in my weight loss. I find that I actually am less likely to snack in the am if I have my coffee. I do limit myself to one cup and don't drink it every day. I'm trying to switch to green tea simply for the health benefits, but sometimes these small pleasures keep me on plan.

A subject of great interest to me right now. I quit sugar July 1, 2007 and now I want to quit caffeine. The only thing I drink with caffeine is coffee and it is really, really hard to give up my coffee in the mornings. But I haven't had any coffee in three days now.

The caffeine doesn't seem to effect my weight loss, but the real reason I'm giving it up is because it increases the intensity of tremor that I have in my hands. It's called 'essential tremor'. Matter of fact, one of the big reasons behind quitting sugar was hoping that I might be helped by that as well.

Fact is both sugar and caffeine are stimulants and are addictive, as you are all well aware! I am doing LC, not only to lose the 100 pounds I need to get rid of, but to improve my health in general. The only real health problems I have are the tremor and hypertension. So, I am doing PPLP, and actually looking at it as a Life Plan!

I'm substituting herbal teas, decaf green tea, decaf Constant Comment tea, decaf Earl Grey tea, etc. It seems like I really look forward to a warm drink in the AM more than anything. And a few more days of withdrawal headaches and I should be homefree. I kicked the sugar habit, so I know I can kick the caffeine as well.

An interesting note is how much caffeine shows up in the ingredient list of so many foods one would never dream of containing caffeine. And carbonated drinks are loaded with the stuff.

Anyway, I look forward to more feedback and answers in this thread as to the effects of caffeine on weight loss, insulin release, etc. Thanks all.

Ron

Glad you posted this, Mary..

I always make decaf coffee and never had a problem. But I got a Diet Coke because I had to drive a distance today. Boy, that caffeine made me
hungrier than usual..This is NOT a good thing..

Plus, if I have caffeine after noon, I can't get to sleep. I am really
caffeine sensitive.

Decaf doesn't bother me.

I can't say I have a problem with caffeine that I know of. But I've always tried to avoid it as much as possible, just in case. I usually drink diet rite. As for coffee.. I always drink decaf. More because it's just a habit than anything, but again I'm sure it isn't hurting me to avoid it.

YMMV... I know it didn't stop me! I didn't drink as much, though, not as much post-carb 3pm fatigue.

I do know that if you have anxiety issues pre-lc, because of your blood sugar seasawing on carbs, if you give up caffeine too you'll likely feel even better.

Amy,

The Diet-Rite is one of the very few caffeine free drinks out there. Diet Coke has around 45mg of caffeine in it and Diet Mountain Dew has 55mg.

And FWIW, that Diet Coke or Diet MD is merely a drop in the caffeine bucket when you compare it to that cup of Grande StarBucks Coffee which weighs in at a whopping 372mg of caffeine! According to the sources I found, the same size cup of Dunkin Donuts Coffee contains around 143mg. No wonder the drive-thru is always backed up at StarBucks!



Check out the caffeine levels in some popular soft drinks and other beverages here or here

Ron

Hi Guys,
Just thought I'd help a tiny bit...caffeine does two things in the body. One, it causes your stomach to release more acid...it does this by causing an increase in cyclic GMP. That is a chemical made in your cells and is a gatekeeper to receptors on the cell membrane. An increase in cyclic GMP increases acid production in the stomach's parietal cells (acid producer cells)...there is a bit of metabolism boost...very small related to increased cGMP. Cell membranes have lots of different receptors.
Secondly, there is a rise in catecholamine prodution and this also causes a rise in heartrate, blood pressure and a feeling of increased energy as a byproduct. Those with uncontrolled BP may be at risk.
There are a lot of people researching coffee...which does have about 2000 diiferent chemical compounds in it. Caffeine being only one.
Like tobacco, coffee can be manipulated to increase/decrease caffeine levels.
I am still unconvinced as to whether coffee is appropriate for everybody. There maybe those more sensitive to the compounds than others?
Food for thought,
Lauren

Oh yeah also, with increased catechoamines you get a drop in blood glocose levels and an increase in cardiovascular response. Fight or flight syndrome...
Dr. Atkins discusses this in his original book and that was why he encouraged decaf or no coffee at all. The transient effect is to raise blood glucose levels by mobilizing fats.
Lauren

Well count me as a coffee fan, the real untouched variety. I refuse to use anything that has been "improved" or altered by man, hence no decaf. Man's "improvements" usually destroy nature's delicate balance. I'm also old enough to remember when coffee was decaffeinated with paint stripper (methylene chloride). The energizing effects of coffee are more balanced than using the same amount of caffeine alone. It has also been found that coffee before a workout enables you to work harder and longer without realizing it.

There is also significant evidence to show that drinking coffee can substantially reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

In a major study in Finland (which has the highest rate of consumption of coffee in the world) that involved more than 14,000 people, it was possible to determine the risk of diabetes at very high levels of consumption. In this study the heavy coffee drinkers, those who drank ten or more cups a day, were less likely to suffer from the disease. Such high consumption reduced the risk by 79% for women and 55% for men. There was also good news for more moderate amounts, three to four cups a day, the risk of diabetes in that group was reduced by 29% for women and 27% for men. Similar results were obtained in a long term US study (12-18 years).


- Tuomilehto J, Hu Gang, Bidel S, Lindstrom J, Jousilahti P. Coffee consumption and risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus among middle-aged Finnish men and women. JAMA 2004;291: 1213-19

- Salazar-Martinez E, Willett WC, Ascherio A, Leitzmann M, Manson JE, Stampfer MJ, Hu FB. Coffee consumption and risk of Type 2 diabetes in men and women. Ann Intern Med. 2004;140: 1-8.

Lauren,

Great info. I know I have a sensitivity to caffeine...or shall I say one of the other many chemical compounds in coffee. Sometimes I'm not sure which. I do know that a cup of Dunkin Donuts decaf or Starbucks decaf gives me the jitters worse than their caffeinated coffee. Sometimes I wonder if I have a sensitivity to some of the chemicals used in the process to remove the caffeine.

On the other hand, tea with caffeine doesn't seem to bother me like coffee does. However, I realize that tea is generally quite a bit lower of the caffeine content scale.

Four days now with no coffee...haven't hurt anyone yet! Even today it seems the headache is beginning to taper off.

And as you said, coffee may be OK for some, while some of us experience a sensitivity to coffee.

Ron

Ron, You're right...some coffees are more active than others...this could go to the other 1999 compounds they are still working on.
I took a course in medicinal chemistry just prior to going to med school. In it we separated alkaloids and created drugs...just from plant clippings. It was very useful to me to see the creation process and it has given me a greater appreciation for herbal compounds that are themselves very active in and on our bodies.
Did you know that aminophylline from coffee can effect the apperance of cellulite? It has to do once again with those catecholamines!!
Lauren

Disclosure for you guys,
I am a physician, board certed in Family Medicine, but I work exclusively in Wound care and Hyperbaric medicine.
My bachelors degrees are in Biology and Liberal Studies, I have a Master of Science in Hyperbaric Medicine and then a Doctorate of Medicine (MD).
Why so much school? Nerd. I spend most of a patient's visit listening, some talking/teaching and write very few meds.
I do think a lot of inflammation could be treated with a lowcarb diet.
Lauren

I practice in Melbourne, FL. I really like doing medicine this way...it gives me time to get to know the patient.
I also, keep my hand at regular medicine by working in a free clinic in Orlando, once a month.
Makes for a long day but so worth it.
Lauren