Hi all,

I would like to reduce my cortisol levels. I just feel I am way too stressed out way too often. Of course removing/avoiding (food and non-food) stressors, following the diet as good as possible, practicing meditation, doing the *right* exercises, etc, all contribute, but I am specifically wondering about the role of coffee;

Many websites suggest coffee (or caffeine in general) boost cortisol levels.
See for instance this number 1 tip of some "reduce cortisol levels'-website;

Quoted Text

1. Eliminate caffeine from your diet.
It’s the quickest way to reduce cortisol production and elevate the production of DHEA, the leading anabolic youth hormone. 200 mg of caffeine (one 12 oz mug of coffee) increases blood cortisol levels by 30% in one hour! Cortisol can remain elevated for up to 18 hours in the blood. This is the easiest step to decrease your catabolic metabolism and increase your anabolic metabolism.
src: http://www.womenshealth-naturalsolutions.com/6_tips_to_cut_your_cortisol_production.htm

Both coffee and tea are diamonds on my SWAMI. My question is: what should I do? Would it be best to totally avoid coffee and tea if I want to feel less stressed? Or does the 'above quote' simply not apply to people who have got coffee as a diamond? FYI: On a typical day I consume 2 coffee.

Maybe some A's can share their experience regarding the topic 'stress & caffeine'?

alternate breathing!!!
http://www.4yourtype.com/TypeA_basic.asp
...............
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDjMqnxSBF4

http://www.4yourtype.com/2010_newsletter_v7n12.asp

apply the guidelines given

Damon - While I am not an A, just wondering if you are consuming organic tea & coffee? That would definitely make a difference and of course the SWAMI recommendations are 2x daily - 8 oz. The size of tea cups of old; not the huge mugs that exist now.  

Ashwahandha can be helpful for A's in lowering that stress response.

And Cortiguard:
Studies of cortisol and blood type showed that Type A’s and B’s had higher and more rapid rises in cortisol levels than the other blood types when subjected to occasional stress. An increasing amount of evidence indicates that individuals of differing blood groups have extremely different responses to the same stressor.
http://www.4yourtype.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NP006

Dianne is right.  A couple of 8 oz cups is different from a couple of giant mugs of coffee.  You might try reducing the amount of coffee you drink and stick with organic.

I love Lola's suggestion of alternate nostril breathing.  It is very surprisingly effective and wonderful.  The trick is remembering to do it when feeling stressed.  

Do a trial for 2 weeks and you will know better than anyone else.  Good luck.

I am one of those A's that stress over everything (am getting better in my old age however!)so I take Cortiguard when I feel I need it. Coffee is a diamond on my swami and I use it as a treat in the afternoon, maybe 3 times a week. I drink one 8oz. cup of organic regular coffee with hot soy milk. It doesn't affect my stress level...only I do that! (usually)

Damon, I agree with what others have written above regarding breathing techniques & giving it a 2 week trail to see how coffee really affects you.

I started drinking coffee about 12 years ago in high school for those late-night study sessions. I seemed to experience no ill effects from it until after college when I had children. Now, I can't drink it before 2 or I'll be up all night. Also, if I drink it before 2, then it immediately makes me feel wired/anxious/overly stressed. Granted, I can get a lot done in a short amount of time, but having that feeling is not worth it to me anymore. As you've probably guessed, I'm "caffeine sensitive" & it is an avoid on my SWAMI.

Even if it doesn't keep you up at night if you drink it after 2, find a way to see it's real effects on you. Once you know that, then you can either replace it with something else or keep it. If it's not the coffee contributing to your stress, then it may be something else in your diet. Again, as someone said above, it could be that you're needing to take a supplement. I'm considering ordering some Cortiguard for myself because I've read on here about it helping so many A's to manage stress.

Listen to you hopeful18 - you sound like you've been here a while  

Quoted from hopeful18

Damon, I agree with what others have written above regarding breathing techniques & giving it a 2 week trail to see how coffee really affects you.

I started drinking coffee about 12 years ago in high school for those late-night study sessions. I seemed to experience no ill effects from it until after college when I had children. Now, I can't drink it before 2 or I'll be up all night. Also, if I drink it before 2, then it immediately makes me feel wired/anxious/overly stressed. Granted, I can get a lot done in a short amount of time, but having that feeling is not worth it to me anymore. As you've probably guessed, I'm "caffeine sensitive" & it is an avoid on my SWAMI.

Even if it doesn't keep you up at night if you drink it after 2, find a way to see it's real effects on you. Once you know that, then you can either replace it with something else or keep it. If it's not the coffee contributing to your stress, then it may be something else in your diet. Again, as someone said above, it could be that you're needing to take a supplement. I'm considering ordering some Cortiguard for myself because I've read on here about it helping so many A's to manage stress.

I agree with hopeful18, just try to find out if you are "caffeine sensitive". Does coffee keep you up? If you can drink coffee 4 hours before bed and still go to sleep I really don't think you'd qualify as caffeine sensitive, and it is probably something else causing the stress.

Quoted from Victoria

/prodinfo.asp?number=NP006

I love Lola's suggestion of alternate nostril breathing.  It is very surprisingly effective and wonderful.  The trick is remembering to do it when feeling stressed.  

So true. Hmmm....reminders, perhaps I'll have to cut out pictures of noses and tape them on the bathroom mirror, the fridge, the coat closet, my wallet etc...as a reminder.  

Quoted from Dianne

So true. Hmmm....reminders, perhaps I'll have to cut out pictures of noses and tape them on the bathroom mirror, the fridge, the coat closet, my wallet etc...as a reminder.  

hehe!  Whatever works!  

Quoted from chrissyA

Listen to you hopeful18 - you sound like you've been here a while  

Haha! I do sound like I've been here awhile! But of course I'm a total newbie.

My guess is that coffee's effect on cortisol depends on whether you drink it on an empty stomach.  If you drink coffee after a meal, it shouldn't have as much effect.

I think at different times in life the issue of caffeine might change.
I used to drink lots of black tea.  I have been working on cutting down on the anxiety/stress etc. and  I find drinking mostly green and herbal teas works well for me now.  I also rarely use cane sugar which is another factor for me.
Lin