How coffee can make you fat.

I get it — the thought of giving up your daily coffee is probably the last thing you want to hear. If you’re like me, it’s hard to imagine a day without it. But before you take that next sip, let me explain how coffee might be affecting your body through stress hormones.

Understanding Your Adrenal Glands and Their Role

To start, let’s talk about your adrenal glands. These small, walnut-sized organs sit atop your kidneys and are crucial for regulating everything from metabolism and blood pressure to your body’s response to stress. They produce several hormones, but two of the most important ones in this story are adrenaline and cortisol.

How Adrenaline Affects Your Body

When you’re under stress, your body releases adrenaline, preparing you for a “fight-or-flight” response. This triggers a glucose surge in your bloodstream to provide quick energy. It’s your body’s way of ensuring you have enough fuel to respond to immediate danger, like escaping from a predator. The problem is, today’s stress isn’t usually life-threatening, and often we don’t burn off the energy we get from this glucose surge.

The Consequence of Excess Glucose

So what happens when you don’t use up that glucose? Your body releases insulin to bring your blood sugar back down, storing the excess in your muscles and liver. But if those storage spots are already full, your body starts converting that extra glucose into fat — specifically belly fat. And guess what? This process can be triggered by more than just stress. That morning coffee plays a role too.

How Coffee Fits Into the Picture

Here’s where coffee comes in. Caffeine stimulates your adrenal glands to produce adrenaline. Whether you’re facing actual danger or just sipping coffee at your desk, your body reacts the same way: it releases glucose into your bloodstream. The issue is that most of us aren’t burning that glucose off right away. Instead, insulin steps in to manage the excess, storing it as fat around your midsection.

Why Does Stress Fat Collect Around the Belly?

Your body tends to store fat around your belly as a protective measure. It’s your body’s way of safeguarding vital organs during times of stress or food scarcity. So, while it’s an evolutionary response, it’s not always ideal in the modern world, especially when stress is constant and doesn’t involve physical exertion.

Simple strategies to manage stress & lower your cortisol levels:

Emotional Health Strategies: Incorporate strategies like practising gratitude, journaling, Tai Chi, or restorative yoga into your routine. These practices can help you manage stress more effectively.

Diaphragmatic Breathing, or deep breathing, is a simple yet powerful technique to calm your nervous system—and it’s my absolute favourite. Just a few minutes, even as little as two, is enough to start helping your body release stress, even while sitting at your desk. You can do it any time of the day and feel how quickly your heart rate goes down. Start small with two short sessions a day and gradually incorporate more moments throughout your day. With regular practice, it can make a remarkable difference in managing stress and its effects.

In addition to these strategies, supplementation with vitamin B, vitamin C, and magnesium can be beneficial in supporting your adrenal health. These essential nutrients play crucial roles in the proper functioning of your adrenal glands, helping your body manage stress more effectively.

Vitamin B, particularly B5 (pantothenic acid), is known for its role in adrenal hormone production. Vitamin C acts as an antioxidant and supports your immune system during stressful times. Magnesium is essential for overall muscle and nerve function, which includes the muscles of the adrenal glands.

So, Should You Give Up Coffee?

I’m not saying you need to quit coffee entirely, but it’s worth considering how it affects you personally. If coffee makes you jittery, anxious, or causes digestive issues, it might be time to reassess how much you’re drinking. And if you’re struggling with weight loss or unexplained weight gain, this could be the missing piece of the puzzle.

For me, cutting back to one cup a day (OK, sometimes two 😉) has made a noticeable difference.