The Benefits of Organic Coffee for Psoriatic Arthritis

Every caffeine aficionado knows a cup of Joe is so much more than freshly grounded coffee beans and boiling water. The unmistakable aroma of a morning coffee breathes life into a new day.

It shakes away the grogginess of a full night's slumber and infuses our blood with the superpower needed to tackle any task. It makes sense why Americans drink about 400 million cups of black gold every single day.

Coffee can sometimes cause more harm than good

But what if that fuel you're sipping on isn't as high-octane as you thought it was? What if your mug is just steaming with polluted toxic sludge? If you're not careful, coffee has the potential to cause more harm than good. That is because conventionally grown coffee is one of the most chemically treated crops in the world.

Long before your mug is poured, coffee begins as a small seed. Like all things, coffee needs a healthy dose of water, sunlight, and time to reach its potential and flourish into a fully ripened fruit.

Unfortunately, it doesn't end there. As farmers seek to maximize yields, this once natural growing cycle gets a synthetic boost by way of chemical fertilizers.

This "boost" isn't exactly minuscule, either. Every single acre of conventionally grown coffee receives approximately 250 pounds of chemicals. At this point, it's safe to assume that a once pure and potent crop has become adulterated. Now, it is the responsibility of your body to filter and process the toxic matter.

What are the benefits of organic coffee?

Organic premium coffee should be your biggest priority amongst all other foods and beverages. It should be the one thing you splurge a couple of extra dollars for or make a little extra time in your schedule to obtain.

In a perfect world, we would all consume a diet rich in whole organic foods. Our diets would resemble Tom Brady's and Gisele Bundchen's. But, we all know this isn't a perfect world.

Often, money and time are limiting factors. Buying all organic produce and grass-fed meat isn't practical. Nor is having the time to cook every single meal at home.

How many cups of coffee should I drink?

So why does coffee warrant the priority of both your wallet and your time? Because of one simple reason. How many cups of coffee have you guzzled down in your life? From the minute you started sipping that morning brew, you've savored it every single day. If you're like me, you do so two or three times a day.

So like most things in life, the threat lies in the dose. Conventionally grown coffee provides a steady stream of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and insecticides day after day, year after year.

As these chemicals gradually build up inside your body and accumulate in body fat, the risk of developing an array of health problems increases significantly. Specifically, these chemicals damage your nervous and reproductive systems, as well as, disrupt your hormone and immune system functions.

Tips for the coffee drinker

In fact, the Environmental Protection Agency warns that 30 percent of insecticides, 60 percent of herbicides, and 90 percent of fungicides are carcinogenic. Those are not small percentages by any means.

For the home brewer: This is an easy fix. Purchase organic or premium quality coffee beans and ensure you are properly storing them to maximize freshness. The standard practice to accomplishing this is storing them in an airtight container, out of direct sunlight, and somewhere that is temperature-controlled. Additionally, consider grinding the beans just before brewing instead of the entire bag at once.

For the "grab on the go" drinker: This might be even easier than brewing at home, especially if you reside in a big city. Start to pay attention as to where you're purchasing your coffee. Don't settle for subpar coffee from street carts or convenience stores. Walking or driving an extra block to go to a local coffee shop serving higher grade coffee is worth it. The few extra minutes and dollars out of your day is both time and money well spent.

Connecting coffee to your health

Lastly, a simple trick to use if you ever find yourself in a bind and need a caffeine fix is the "Americano trick." Although Americanos don't seem to be much different from coffee, they are espresso-based which means the beans are ground before every cup. This ensures you're getting fresh beans and significantly reducing any toxic buildup.

Make the transition from conventionally grown coffee to high-quality organic goodness as soon as possible. It just maybe, in fact, the first step you need to embark on the journey to a healthy you.