Do You Do Coffee Every Morning and Wine Every Night?
By Sandy Schroeder
Coffee and wine are familiar choices for many of us, but when they become daily “must haves,” the question becomes more significant. I am pretty sure I fit the must have slot for caffeine. I have been known to make a late evening run just to make sure there is coffee available in the morning.
If you start every day with coffee and wrap it up with a glass of wine in the evening, you may want to hear what doctors and health researchers are saying about the pattern.
Recently in wellandgood.com, Robin Berzin MD, said she frequently sees these patterns in her clinic. People stay up late, watch TV or play on other screens, relying on a nightcap to help them doze off. In the morning they rely on coffee to fire up the day and start the pattern all over again.
Health researcher Max Lugavere suggests this is a “codependent relationships with wine and caffeine.” Dr. Berzin says coffee’s natural chemicals can increase blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and create anxiety.
This back-and-forth cycle can play through the whole day as coffee powers the afternoon, and people seek relief from the day with alcohol in the evening.
A cup or two of coffee in the morning and a glass of red wine a few times a week may not create many health ripples, but if the cycle grows and takes on a “must do” edge, it may be time to consider ways to break free.
Get adequate sleep - Establish regular sleep hours. Make the bedroom a sleep haven with air filters to clean the air and provide soothing white noise. Use blackout drapes to reduce light, and make sure your mattress and pillows are comfortable. If possible, keep the electronics, including the TV, outside.
Watch what you eat – Simple snacks such as cheese and crackers work, but spicy foods, chocolate and processed foods can disrupt sleep.
Maintain energy with diet – Avoiding caffeine boosts and wine chill-outs is easier with a balanced diet of protein, simple carbs, veggies and little sugar. Choose hearty bowls of oats with fresh fruit, or veggie omelets for breakfast. Make lunch a high protein low-fat affair with avocado and breast of chicken or salmon salads. Keep dinner healthy with lean meats, poultry, or fish and a healthy serving of vegetables.
Find new ways to relax – As you roll into the evening, consider some new ways to unwind. A walk with the dog and your kids after dinner, an Epsom salt bath, a session on the mat with yoga poses, quiet time with a good book, or simple meditations may become new habits replacing alcohol.
As always, check with your doctor first when you change diets and consider overall healthi issues.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropracti in Maple Grove, Minn.
