Know Your Caffeine Limits
Winter is the time that many of us embrace festive, caffeinated concoctions, like peppermint mochas and espresso martinis, but how much caffeine is too much caffeine? “Caffeine is a stimulant and a stressor on the body,” Titgemeier reminds us. “Many people drink coffee for the jolt of adrenaline and cortisol that it provides. This can leave you feeling wired and tired. For many people, this caffeine high is followed by energy dips or crashes throughout the day.” That doesn’t mean that you should nix caffeine altogether, but you should pay attention to how much of it you consume throughout the day and how it makes you feel—including noticing increases to your heart rate, your quality of sleep, and fluctuations in mood. Why do we each tolerate caffeine differently? Titgemeier explains, “Your response to coffee largely depends on the gene that is responsible for the metabolism of caffeine: CYP1A2. People are either fast or slow caffeine metabolizers. Fast caffeine metabolizers are more likely to benefit from the polyphenols in coffee and are less likely to experience any side effects associated with caffeine. Those that have a gene mutation to CYP1A2 that makes them a slow metabolizer are less likely to experience the benefits documented in the research.” Point being? Know your body, and respect its unique tolerance of caffeine in order to feel your best.
Beware of Added Sugar and Sweeteners
It’s no secret that too much added sugar is a general health no-no, leading to everything from chronic inflammation to diabetes to obesity. But the white stuff can sneak into our beverages without us even realizing how much we are consuming. “Approximately 47 percent of America’s total added sugar intake comes directly from beverages,” says Titgemeier. “Drinking sugar is even worse than eating it because there is no fiber or protein to slow down the spike in blood sugar levels.” That doesn’t mean that you should never indulge in that sweet hot cocoa, but being mindful of how many sugary drinks you’re quaffing is a must for staying well through the winter. Titgemeier also warns against “sugar-free” drinks that still taste extremely sweet. “Artificial sweeteners are often found in sugar-free syrups that are pumped into beverages. But sweeteners that are artificially made and contain zero nutritional value are not much better than sugar.”
Go Green
Tea, that is. From a health perspective, it doesn’t get much better than green tea, especially matcha. “This form of green tea is packed with antioxidants and nutrients such as the polyphenol Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and the amino acid L-theanine. This combination may be associated with improved mood, cognition, and less jittery alertness. Eighty percent of the polyphenols are derived from catechins and 60 percent of those catechins are from the EGCG, explains Titgemeier. “And while matcha contains more caffeine than your typical green tea bag, the caffeine content is still much lower than coffee.”
Give Your Beverage a Boost
Even if you’re sticking to standard tea or coffee this winter, you can elevate the health properties of any beverage with a few key add-ins: RELATED: 7 Anti-Inflammatory Foods to Eat Every Day for Long-Term Health and Happiness
