Caffeine is commonly classified as a drug in mainstream nutrition, but I believe this can only be true if taken in by itself without the right nutrients. 

According to Dr. Ray Peat, any essential nutrient used in isolation, can be used as a drug for any specific effect on the person that wouldn’t normally be the case if eaten with other foods. 

So, if used differently, could caffeine become a nutrient?

Ray states, The main reason coffee gives people the “jitters” is because they drink their coffee without any fat, like milk or cream and without food.

According to Ray Peat , “The bad effects of coffee are usually due to drinking large doses in a short amount of time” Drinking coffee on an empty stomach increases the cellular consumption of glucose and then causes an increase of adrenaline. Over producing adrenaline can then lead to exhaustion, a less efficient energy metabolism (slow down) and a depletion of glycogen stores. 

The liver requires glycogen to convert hormones so that your thyroid use the hormones your liver converted to produce energy. Your thyroid and metabolism depend on this process to work optimally.

So what does this all mean? 

Caffeine can be really beneficial to your metabolism and increase your energy if taken with milk, heavy cream and by eating food with your coffee. 

It’s all about how you use it.

Benefits of caffeine:

• Increases progesterone concentration and production

• Balances blood sugar

• Protects the liver from alcohol

• Increases metabolic energy

• Improves mood

• Highly protective against cancer, including estrogen induced breast cancer

• Lower incidence of thyroid disease

• Provides magnesium and vitamin B1

• Improves athletic performance

• Protects against stress induced cell death without interfering with normal cell turnover

• Can prevent nerve cell death

• Prevents free radical damage

How I take my coffee:

• 2-3 Tbsp Organic Heavy Cream

• 1 Tbsp Great Lakes Gelatin

• Sugar to taste

You can also add...

4 Sigmatic mushroom hot cacao mix