This post was partially extracted from our site under; ‘Health and Healing and Fitness’
The threads name was called; ‘Coffee’
Persons interested in developing their memory, should avoid the regular use of mild stimulants, such as coffee, tea and tobacco, which contain caffeine, the theine, and nicotine, respectively. Strictly avoid using strong stimulants, such as liquor and drugs. All strong stimulants intoxicate, drug, and deteriorate, intelligence, and memory cells of the brain, preventing them from recording, noble ideas, and sense impressions in general. Memory cells that are constantly, and anesthetized by stimulants lose their retentive power and become lazy and inert. Intoxication obliterate the functions of the conscious mind by harmful chemicals, hence injures the cerebral memory-organ. When the brain is affected the memory is impaired.
Paramahansa Yogananda (SRF lesson 49)
Presently, coffee is seen, in moderation, as a good pro-health and pro-longevity substance. Of course, caffeine in excess can have negative results, especially so when taken by slow metabolizers and at night. So, often it is an individual issue.
Coffee has several beneficial effects from polyphenols and diterpenes, although the latter seem to increase LDL. Caffeine is good in the morning but can destroy circadian rhythm in the evening.
There are many strategies to optimize the beneficial effects of coffee, minimizing the detrimental effects (a bad one is its hypertensive effect).
My strategy: presently I only consume the Arabica coffee variety, which has about one half the caffeine than the robusta variety. I grind my own beans, so I'm pretty sure about it.
Also, I moderate its consumption and never take it after 2 P.M. If I feel like taking more than 2 espressos or to take it late in the day, I'll have decaffeinated, which contains very little caffeine, a negligible amount to act as a competitor of adenosine in the brain,
Neurologically, coffee affects some neurotransmitters, like dopamine, choline, adrenaline, with the net effect of greater alertness, energy, nervous activation.
In spiritual terms, it's highly rajasic, and rajasic can be useful in our society if we can manipulate this sattva to our advantage and with discrimination and wisdom.
