A recent study showed that drinking instant coffee increased the beneficial bacteria, Bifidobacterium, in your gut. So is coffee good for you? Find out what Body Ecology founder, Donna Gates says about coffee, beneficial bacteria and boosting your energy. |
A recent study from the Nestle research center shows that “moderate consumption of an instant coffee may boost the numbers of certain bacteria in the gut with reputed health benefits.”[1]
Nestle scientists found that drinking three cups of instant coffee daily increased the numbers of the beneficial bacteria, Bifidobacterium spp., without changing any of the other micorflora in the gut.[2]
Bifidobacterium is a strain of beneficial bacteria (also called probiotics) found in your intestines. The Bifodobacterium species have been known to have benefits for bowel health.
The research was conducted on 16 volunteers and the researchers are not clear which components of the coffee were responsible for the increase in Bifidobacterium.
Does this mean instant coffee is good for you? Is it a prebiotic? The studies were not conclusive with respect to the health benefits of the coffee or whether it could be considered a prebiotic.
So Is Coffee Good For The Bacteria in Your Gut?
Hmmm, I don’t know about you, but the first thing that we noticed in this study was who was sponsoring it: Nestle, a company best known for their Nescafe instant coffee product.
This one piqued our curiosity, so we went to Body Ecology founder, Donna Gates and asked for her opinion: “Is instant coffee really good for the bacteria in your gut?”
The first thing Donna said to us is, “everything has a front and a back…or a positive and a negative.” Donna went on to ask us about the aim of this study. Clearly it was created to help people who are addicted to coffee feel better about drinking it.
So we looked a little deeper into the study. There were only 16 volunteers studied, all in good health. The study was conducted for only 3 weeks. There’s a lot we still don’t know, including, how coffee would affect the health and well-being of someone who is not in perfect health? Or what are the long-term affects of coffee on beneficial bacteria or overall health?
Studies aside, the big question Donna suggested we all ask ourselves is: “Is coffee good for MY body?”
Is Coffee Good for YOUR Body?
Body Ecology’s principle of uniqueness tells you that if you tune into your body, you can be your best detective for what works or does not work for you.
So if you are a coffee drinker, pay attention to your body and mind the next time you have coffee. Ask yourself:
If you go only a day or two without coffee, you may experience headaches, irritability or even constipation, symptoms that often send people running to the nearest coffee shop. This can signal a physical addiction to coffee.
Still others are addicted to the taste of coffee, even if they drink decaffeinated coffee.
What’s Happened to Our Energy?
This dependence on coffee and caffeine begs the question, what’s happening to our energy? Even kids are indulging in the caffeine habit with soda and energy drinks.
The truth is, your body has incredible potential to create it’s own energy, but when you indulge in a lot of coffee and caffeine, you rob your body of its energy-producing capabilities.
Here’s how: coffee is acidic and when you drink it, your body has to work extra-hard to come to its desired, slightly alkaline state. Over time, an acidic condition robs your body of minerals, which are food for your energy-producing organs, the adrenals, creating adrenal fatigue. Your adrenals work hand-in-hand with your thyroid for energy production.
It’s no wonder that thyroid problems and low libido are on the rise, just as our natural energy seems to be falling.
The good news is that you can free yourself from dependence on coffee and caffeine with a few natural tips!
To boost your beneficial bacteria naturally, ditch the coffee and instead, drink 2 oz. of naturally sweet Passion Fruit Biotic. Rich in probiotics, Passion Fruit Biotic boosts the good microflora in your gut...and better yet, it helps your body create lasting energy! Invest in your best health, start drinking Passion Fruit Biotic today. |
The Healthy, Natural Way to Boost Your Beneficial Bacteria AND Your Energy
Here are our top two suggestions for boosting your energy naturally AND boosting the number of beneficial bacteria in your gut: