by Stephanie Carnes
OHN Contributor

Coffee can be very hard on your body. It makes the body overly acidic, kills the healthy microbes in your gut, and tends to throw your blood sugar off balance. An addiction to this beverage is a sign that your adrenal glands are already exhausted, and coffee drains those glands even more. All of these imbalances make it hard for the body to truly rest, and they make it hard for the individual to know what their limits are.

Many people find that coffee is almost impossible to give up because it is one of their most important and essential daily rituals. People need rituals that allow them to feel that life is good and that they can handle the chores of day-to-day life. Unfortunately, for many this contentment comes with their daily cup of coffee. If this is the case with you, you will want to find a coffee substitute like green or herbal tea, at least for a period of time. Go out and get yourself a lot of different teas, experiment and have fun!

Besides the excess sugar or NutraSweet found in soda, studies demonstrate that phosphorus, a frequent ingredient of soda, can deplete bones of calcium. Phosphorus, which occurs naturally in some foods and is used as an additive in many others, appears to weaken bones by promoting the loss of calcium throughout the entire body. With less calcium available, the bones suffer by becoming more porous and prone to fractures and osteoporosis.

Additionally, alcohol contains elements of fermentation that can be dangerously stressful and damaging to the liver, which is our major filter of toxins as well as the major organ of digestion. Alcohol also damages glandular/immune organs, connective tissue and the nervous system. For those of you who find it hard to give up alcohol, twelve step programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous are welcoming and have healing tools that do work. Your life will be greatly enriched by doing the emotional and spiritual work of the steps.

You may be putting undue strain on your digestive and detoxification systems if you are over-consuming these beverages. It is recommended to eliminate them from your diet all together if you have chosen to embark on the Optimal Health Center detoxification plan.

For more information on Kristina Amelong’s Step-By-Step Guide to Nutritional Therapy and Cleansing, please view the source below.

SOURCE: Ten Days to Optimal Health (Amelong 2006)

Labels: addictions, blood sugar, caffeine, calcium, NutraSweet, osteoporosis