I vividly recall like it was yesterday the time I had my first delicious cup of coffee. Rhode Island just got dumped on by the Blizzard of ‘78 and Salty Brine announced over the radio that there would obviously be no school today! I was huddled around the table, with the grown-ups, with little heat, playing cards for quarters. My Mom had just perked a fresh pot on the gas stove with one of those old type percolator pots. “Mr. Coffee” was out of commission along with the rest of the electrical appliances due to the power outage. I was 11 years old, and a little bit concerned that it might stunt my growth…maybe my worry was justified; I’m only 5′ 6″. Actually, that’s an old wives’ tale…coffee does not stunt growth, and incidentally, I’m one of the tallest members of my extended family…It’s all relative, well, genetic. But there are other reasons that youngsters shouldn’t drink more than a little bit, once in a while.
What I can’t remember, is when I started drinking it every morning as a ritual. Maybe I was about 13 or 14. Anyway, since then until now, it’s a ritual that can be considered an addiction; both psychological and physical. It’s a psychological addiction because when my eyes first open in the A.M., it’s my motivation to get out of bed. I love the smell. I like to make it - I can do it with my eyes closed, and sometimes I do. If bereft of filters, I can make do with a paper towel, or by rinsing out the previous day’s filter. I can cope with no half and half, barely. But, if out of grounds…I freak!
Believe it or not, it really is a physical addiction for those of us accustomed to a daily dose of caffeine. I remember when I spent a few weeks at the Cranston Hilton, A.K.A the A.C.I. I still got my morning coffee, but it was decaffeinated, and black…Definitely not the way I prefer it. I happen to like my coffee like I like my women - with long legs and big boobs. That’s when I discovered my physical addiction to this very real drug. Without this energizing substance coursing through my veins I ended up with a pounding headache just a few hours after they sent me back to my cage. I almost never get a headache, normally. These withdrawal symptoms lasted for quite a while.
If you are still not convinced that this is in fact a drug, never mind my personal experience, let’s prove it out by comparative etymology:
Beverage-Â Coffee; Latin: Caffe + ine = Caffeine
Beverage- Coke; Latin: Coca + ine = Cocaine
Point proven; case closed. But how can an addiction to this popular mainstream drug actually be considered healthy? Let me champion the cause for the prevention of the illegalization of this uncontrolled substance by shining the light on some of the benefits of drinking coffee in the morning. Notice that I said “in the morning.” Afternoon coffee can cause insomnia, and a good eight hours sleep is imperative for good mental health and physical rejuvenation. Also bear in mind, as stated so well by the Father of Pharmacology -Paracelsus, “The only difference between poison and medicine is the dose. “Coffee all day long, as in more than 500 mg of caffeine total -about five 8 oz. cups per day is an unhealthy excess. Read this informative article about the dangers of caffeine in excess: Caffeine the health risks and the benefits by B David Ferrel
•If the psychological addiction to coffee puts your mind in the right place to get up out of bed and confront another day, a finer point of life that you truly enjoy on a daily basis: Go ahead -enjoy! What the hell, if it isn’t too hot why not take a gulp to wash down that hit of Welbutrin?
•Caffeine acts as an appetite suppressant, so for someone cutting calories to loose weight, this can help curb the appetite a bit and help to make those first two meals of the day a little smaller.
•Drinking a hot cup of coffee in the morning can quickly rev up that internal engine for a good bowel movement. So suddenly in fact that I’ve been known to pound on a locked bathroom door while franticly yelling “hurry up in there, I’m crowning!”
•Coffee is a diuretic also. It is healthy for the urinary tract to pee often, especially early in the day. Lots of fluids in general are good, so start your daily intake with the best beverage going: Coffee. And if you want the high grade, best of the best then follow the advice given in this article posted on the Farm Guide Website, and go organic!
About Kevin Leland I've had a job or a hobby for just about every letter of the alphabet. The many experiences along the way has given me tons of material To write about along the way. Some completely anecdotal, some informational. I like to mix both up with a dash of potty humor.
