Recently I’ve been cutting back on coffee. It’s the dairy I’m really trying to avoid. I’m good at having cappuccino, laced with loads of frothy milk and a dash of cream. I usually would have 3 per day, but there would be days that I would have 4, so the milk was adding up. So for the last 5 or 6 days, I’ve changed my coffee drinking routine. Instead of making cappuccino at 7am, I’m delaying it until 10am and having hot water with lemon instead.
On Wednesday last week, which was the first day I tried it, my body’s reaction was so interesting. I got up and went through my routine, but everything was slightly below par. I wasn’t all energized after a good night’s sleep. I wasn’t all perky and enthusiastic, singing away – my normal happy self. It is true to say that I had every reason to be slightly off colour – I had a head cold of note.
At 10am, I made my first coffee, but instead of frothing up a nice head of steamy milk, I only added a little cream. It tasted really good. But it was what transpired 15 to 30 minutes later that surprised me.
I was like the energizer bunny – suddenly the caffeine had hit my blood stream – the result was stunning. I went from 40% activity to 101%. I buzzed around the house, deep cleaning, vacuuming, enthusiastically scrubbing. Everything got better. My mood lifted, my energy lifted – the whole world took on a much happier hue.
It.Was.Amazing.
Apparently the caffeine blocks a neurotransmitter in your brain than inhibits your mood. So when you have a nice proper bean to cup coffee, which has more caffeine than instant coffe, your brain gets an extra boost, increasing mood and energy levels!
That’s what caffeine does.
In order to really see the effect, I had to take it out my diet for more hours than usual. It was just fantastic. So now that’s what I have been trying to do. Only have two cups of sugar free, milk free coffee a day, knowing that I will be particularly productive after I’ve had each cup! (I do add cream).
In between, I drink hot water with lemon slices and have the occasional cup of tea.
It’s a good change. My gut feels better for the reduced amount of milk.
If you want a little lift, treat yourself to a nice cup of properly brewed filter coffee. Enjoy it!
Sickness is part of life. Feeling below par happens to all of us, even when we are not sick. Daniel, in the Old Testament had dreams and saw visions. Many were greatly disturbing. Daniel felt absolutely ill because of them. Here’s what he said,
Daniel 8:27
“I, Daniel was exhausted & lay ill for several days. Then I got up & went about the king’s business. I was appalled by the vision; it was beyond understanding.”
And so in our lives there are going to be things beyond our understand that appal us. They may make us exhausted & ill. We need to get up and go about the King’s business. It’s not always easy, but it’s the right thing to do.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
In His Grip,
Helga xx 🙂