Rethink Your Morning Cup of Coffee

Everyone has a morning ritual. Whether it's waking up with a quick jog, packing the kids' lunches or scrolling through Facebook, a cup of coffee always seems to find its way into our daily routine. The warm mug, the rich smell and of course the promise of lifting that morning haze: coffee definitely has its perks. However, the rules of moderation still apply to this delicious beverage. If consumed correctly, studies have shown that coffee has the ability to help lower the risk of type 2 diabetes, colon cancer and gallstones. But if consumed too often or in large volumes, coffee can have some very serious negative side effects.

1. The acidity within coffee is known to contribute to digestive discomfort, heart burn and indigestion.
   
   
2. The caffeine found in coffee increases stress hormones, causing your body to produce more insulin. This insulin results in inflammation and an over all lousy feeling.
   
   
3. Coffee is a mildly addictive stimulant. Withdrawl symptoms can include splitting headaches and shaking.
   
   
4. Your body will have difficulty relying on itself as a natural source of energy.
   
   
5. Many times coffee can disguise excess calories that are found in sweeteners and creams, falling into the trend of being an energy packed snack that contains hardly any nutrients.

Tomorrow morning try starting your day off with a tall glass of water. While at rest, your body has not consumed any food or beverages for about 8 hours. It thirsts for water. Although it lacks in the caffeine and flavor department, H20 will help to purge toxins from your blood and cleanse your colon in preparation to absorb the day's nutrients. Of course nothing can fully replace the tried and true cup of joe, but next time you find yourself refilling that mug once again, try reaching for a glass of water instead.