Saturday, April 24, 2010

Addiction [Photo-Hunt]

Hello, my name is Luna, my blood type is coffee, I was bottle-fed with coffee when I was a baby, and I am a recovering coffee addict. It's been 1 hour, 14 minutes and 43 seconds since my last cup.

Enjoying a cup of coffee is one of my life's pleasures, but people who live with caffeine addiction are not able to appreciate this in the same fashion that a non-addict can. Instead of savoring the aroma, sight and taste of coffee, coffee addicts have coffee jitters, a nervous condition resulting from too much caffeine.

Coffee produces a caffeine high, usually combined with sugar for an even greater high. Like any high, the resulting lows are present and cause depressions and mood swings. Depressions associated with coffee addictions are often misdiagnosed and simply add medications to the addict's life.

Coffee has health risks and benefits. Research suggests that coffee consumption can reduce the chance of acquiring liver cirrhosis, a reduced risk of oral, esophageal and pharyngeal cancer. But it can also damage the lining of gastrointestinal organs, causing gastritis and ulcers. Some studies say that coffee reduces the incidence of dying from heart disease but caffeine as a mild addictive stimulant has modest cardiovascular effects such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and occasional irregular heartbeat. It reduces the risks of Alzheimer's Disease, dementia and Parkinson's Disease; it's also anti-diabetic.

According to Wiki, caffeine does not act as a diuretic when consumed in moderation, contrary to popular belief. Current evidence suggests that caffeinated beverages contribute to the body's daily fluid requirements no differently from pure water.

I am a coffee-lover, and for the past 3 years or so, I've been doing my best not to exceed 2 cups of coffee a day. A huge improvement from my usual 6-8 cups a day. My mantra these days is--moderation is the key.

Posted for Photo Hunt

15 comments:

ipanema said...

i love your post. and loveeeee coffee! :)

Photo Cache said...

I hear you, girl. I was told by one photo hunter that my 2-3 cups of this daily do not count for an addiction :D

Al said...

Hello Luna,

I am AL, my blood type is B as in Barako! Kapeng barako!

Ladykli said...

m-m-m-m I can just smell the coffee from those coffee beans! I love the smell of fresh ground coffee!

Here's my personal addicition

Anonymous said...

How nice to meet you. My name is Robert and I've been drinking coffee from age eighteen.
Until my son was born three years ago, and ever since am addicted to tea, mostly green one, which I get me from Japan.
Wishing you a wonderful Sunday.

daily athens

Carver said...

Wow, this was a great post. I learned some new things about caffeine and coffee and I've been addicted to it for a long time. Great shots too.

magiceye said...

my morning brew!!! love it!!

Susanne said...

I love my coffee too and have had a real struggle keeping it to 2 cups most days.

Sidney said...

I am also a coffee addict... and alas I think there are more negatives than positives. If I could I would quit drinking coffee... but then I would not be a coffee addict ;-0
I need my caffeine fix or I die ! (literally )

Gattina said...

I am also coffee addicted but at the same time a savorer ! I love black strong coffee as Espresso in the very little cups after a good meal (the Italian way) and in the mornings also black coffee with sugar. Milk spoils the taste, lol ! I drink a lot during the mornings at least 5 mugs, in the afternoon I drink tea.

Jama said...

I love the smell of freshly brewed coffee but I'm not a drinker!

bertN said...

My morning does not start unless I have a cup of coffee good, bad or deadly. If it is good, I drink it without sugar or milk; if it is bad, I spike it generously with whiskey; if it is deadly....follow after me, Our Father Who Art in Heaven...LOL.

Wolynski said...

Ooh, I love coffee - can't imagine starting the day without it.

4 cups a day doesn't give me jitters, but I don't drink espresso or really dark coffees.

Wonderful shots.

upto6only said...

im a coffee addict to. feels my day to be incomplete by not drinking just a cup of coffee.

Andrea said...

Hi Luna, we are from the same place, though maybe not from the same island. I love your post here about coffee, esp bottle-fed with it as a baby. We are of the same psyche maybe, at least in terms of coffee. Inasmuch as you want moderation for it, try buying a cup half size of a mug, then try not to overfill it. There is a Corning Ware at SM that size, you will be forced to take it small. Take it from me, trust me. The only consolation of being a coffee addict is that if you stopped for 3-4 days, the addiction is cut. Glad to meet you Luna.

I love your photos, btw!