Ashley’s answer: If you’re asking, I’m thinking it might be, especially if it’s a daily occurrence. The thing about coffee—and certainly not all coffee is created equal, but let’s for the sake of argument say we are talking quality coffee—is that in addition to providing the stimulant caffeine, it’s also acidic. Let’s first address the caffeine quotient. They say that beyond 250 mg of caffeine, the body doesn’t get benefits. And a typical eight-ounce cup contains about 95-100 mg. Thus, three cups may exceed any benefits. In addition, in order to balance your digestive pH, you’ll need to consume a lot of water with lemon, green juice, greens, etc. just to counterbalance a 3-cup-a-day intake. But here’s the most concerning part for me: why do you feel you need three cups daily? My guess is you’re gulping one or two cups to wake up in the morning and another to keep going, and that’s why I’m concerned. Caffeine is a stimulant, but that’s very different from eating or drinking foods with nutrient blends that provide the body with actual “energy”. At three cups a day, coffee certainly doesn’t help promote “better energy”; in fact it can interfere with digestion, exacerbate anxiety, and impair good sleep. I would want to examine your nutrition, your sleep, and your activity levels to get more insight, but I suspect there are some imbalances for which coffees #2 and #3 provide the seemingly perfect Band-Aid. Chewing over a food quandary? Send it to AskAshley@Prevention.com Ashley Koff is a registered dietitian, Qualitarian, nutrition expert, and
