Addiction or Choice? Both?

Is your morning cup of coffee a necessity or a choice? It just might be a little of both.

Caffeine, found naturally in coffee, is a stimulant. According to numerous web sites, the most popular "legal" stimulant. Medicine.net tells us that caffeine abstinence can cause, "headache, tiredness/fatigue, decreased energy/activeness, decreased alertness/attentiveness, drowsiness/sleepiness, decreased contentedness/well-being, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and felling muzzy/foggy/not clearheaded," and that these symptoms can occur as quickly as 12-24 hours after getting "off" caffeine, and could last anywhere between 2-9 days.

Medicine.net also states that, "there is equally compelling evidence that it is not addictive." Many claim that the morning cup of coffee, the warm cup in your hand, the delicious smell and the social nature of the cup of coffee make it a morning tradition of sorts. And that's why they partake every morning.

For me, it's a bit of both. If I go the whole day without caffeine, I notice a slight headache. A diet coke later in the day, if I skip my morning cup for any reason, does the trick. But there's something about that early morning cup. Something that draws me to it, even if I'm not dealing with any withdrawal symptoms.

How about you...is your morning cup of coffee a requirement or just something you're used to?

Is it ever too warm for coffee?

The weather is starting to warm up, though right now I'm feeling a bit chilly after getting doused as I dashed into the station out of the rain. The warming weather made me wonder, is it ever too warm for coffee?

Sure, you can always go iced...but for me the cup of hot coffee I look forward to each morning is more than a beverage, it's a sort of ritual. Especially on a Monday. It's the start of the week, of the morning, of the grind...so to speak. A day without a warm cup to start it off, just doesn't seem to follow the proper path.

So, even in the throes of heat and humidity, I'm going for the hot cup of joe. How about you?

A Downside to Coffee?

Well, not really. It's a small blip in the radar, when it comes to our favorite morning beverage. This morning's segment was about coffee, actually caffeine, and exercise. Mike Cantrell was a hoot and he made short mention about one of the side effects of caffeine and your workout. I thought I'd expand just a little.

I'm an avid mountain biker. There's nowhere I'd rather be on a Saturday or Sunday morning. And I generally indulge myself in a cup or two of coffee pre-ride, as it's just part of the weekend morning tradition. And there's the rub...

Caffeine is a diuretic, which causes you to lose or expel fluid. Expel? Generally means you have to "pee".

If you haven't been out on the mountain bike trails lately, you may not know that they generally aren't equipped with restrooms. Nor do they provide porta-potties. Nope, it's all about nature and means you have to find a convenient spot amongst the trees and brush to "expel" that fluid. For some reason, and this is not based on any scientific fact, it's worse in the winter months. I'd guess, and this is only a guess, it's because you don't sweat as much when it's cold out, so more of that fluid is hanging around waiting to fill up your bladder. And, as you can probably imagine, it's a bit more of a production for the females than the males in any mountain biking crew.

There's a more serious side to the dehydration...of course. We live in a state that gets pretty darned hot and humid several months of the year. It's easy to get dehydrated, even without the assistance of a diuretic. So be careful when you head out for that walk, run, bike or other outdoor activity. Go ahead and enjoy your coffee, but make sure a good water supply is available to you, and drink up.

Have a great week!

Coffee Shop A Go-Go

Many of us have coffee makers of various varieties at home and at the office, making it very easy and convenient to get out morning cup of joe. But what gets you out to a coffee shop or cafe?

Is it the free wi-fi that many java joints offer, allowing you to work or play remotely while getting in a little breakfast or lunch?

Is it the signature beverages, a cappuccino concoction or a rich and complex espresso? If so, what is your favorite beverage at your local coffee house?

Maybe it's the knowledge-base. Do you like knowing someone is making expert decisions on what coffees are used to create their caffeine-rich creations?

And maybe it's the sense of community, a friendly staff that makes sure they remember the name of repeat customers?

Which is it for you? Or do you have a different reason for visiting local coffee shops? We'd love to know what it is.