Coffee raising Cortisol level question

[RhiannonW]

Hi Educated Crowd.

I've read that coffee raises cortisol levels which fuel cravings. I've kind of tested this and it seems to be true for me(whether it's a mind game I subconsciously played? I don't know.) Anyway, IF it's true, is it the caffeine that raises the cortisol level, or something else? I thought coffee only consisted of caffeine. My issue is, I tried replacing coffee with green tea. I want a jolt because I workout at 5am when I first wake up. But if green tea has caffeine and ginseng is it any different than coffee? So, I'm getting the benefits of antioxidents, but also intaking caffeine which raises my cortisol, right? Am I thinking clearly? If not, please set me straight!

Thanks, everyone.

 

[kathryn]

It's possible it's not the caffeine that is doing this, but something called carbolic acid, or some other chemicals specifically in coffee. I don't think that caffeine itself (at least not the amount in green tea) will raise cortisol levels. In fact, green tea has a substance (EGCG: epigallo something or other!!) that is supposed to increase metabolism and burn fat.

 

[nancy324]

Rhiannon, I think Kathryn is right. My doctor mentioned to me once that there are preliminary studies that show that coffee raises cortisol levels and that she thinks, for that reason, that I should cut back my coffee consumption. She specifically told me that in the studies she saw, decaf coffee raises cortisol levels JUST AS MUCH as caffeinated coffee. So, no, I really don't think it's the caffeine that is the problem with coffee.

I say, enjoy your green tea!

-Nancy