Coffee is certainly an acquired taste. Even so, with its energizing effects, coffee has become particularly popular, with an average of 64% of Americans consuming coffee on a daily basis. With its vast popularity, there comes a variety of health implications associated with the often caffeinated beverage. Notably, those on the medication armour thyroid, who are typically prescribed the medication to regulate their hormones and metabolism, may have to face certain restrictions when it comes to drinking coffee.
Typically, when it comes to consumption of any beverage or food item, it is important to consult with a certified medical professional in order to prevent any unnecessary and risky side effects. In the case of armour thyroid, the creators of the medication give adequate and explicit instruction on the consumption of coffee in conjunction with the consumption of armour thyroid.
The explicit instruction states that the recommended daily dosage of armour thyroid should be consumed with a full glass of water, and ideally on an empty stomach. This is to prevent any of the medication from being left the gut, and allowing it to fully absorb through the gastrointestinal tract. In addition, the instruction states to wait 30 minutes after the medication has been taken in order to consume any food or beverage item.
In regards to coffee specifically, we can consider that coffee may delay the uptake of the armour thyroid due to its acidic environment and substances present within it. This is supported by a lab experiment conducted by a team of researchers in 2013. The results showed that the uptake of the armour thyroid decreased by around 16% when consumed with the presence of coffee.
Furthermore, the potential decreased efficacy may be further aggravated by the fact that caffeine is a known metabolic stimulator. Caffeine directly increases the heart rate and blood pressure, and thus, may interfere with the efficacy of armour thyroid, particularly when taken on an empty stomach as directed by the medication.
For this reason, it is advisable to consult with one’s doctor as to whether or not it is advisable to drink coffee in conjunction with the consumption of armour thyroid. For those who are deemed healthy enough to consume coffee, a better approach may be to wait up to two hours after armour thyroid is consumed. Given that this would be at the stage where the effectiveness of the medication is peaking; it may be preferable to consume coffee at this time.
The Repercussions Of Caffeine
Aside from the potential diminished effectiveness of armour thyroid as a result of its ingestion with coffee, it is also important to consider the personal repercussions of consuming caffeine. Specifically, the effects caffeine can have on one’s physical and mental well-being. Despite being a hugely popular beverage with almost an 80 billion dollar industry surrounding it; caffeine carries the potential for abuse and can have detrimental effects on one’s health.
From a physical standpoint, the presence of caffeine can cause physical stress on the body such as an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, a decrease in digestion, flushed skin and in more severe cases, a noticeable jittery feeling. Furthermore, there are some medical concerns that must be addressed such as people with a history of ulcers, diabetes, and even high cholesterol, as caffeine can cause the symptoms of these conditions to become exacerbated.
Similarly, there can be mental effects of drinking too much coffee. Some of these may be a feeling of anxiousness, mild paranoia, decrease in focus, and disruption of sleep. Specifically with armour thyroid, insomnia can be a potential side effect of the medication, exacerbated by the addition of caffeine.
The Effectiveness Of Different Coffee Types
In conclusion, it is important to identify the type of coffee that is consumed; particularly in regards to those who have been recommended armour thyroid. From a potency standpoint, the coffee with the highest amounts of caffeine would be espresso and bulletproof coffee; with roughly 60 to 86 milligrams of caffeine per espresso shot and around 495 milligrams in a cup of bulletproof coffee respectively.
This juxtaposes with decaffeinated coffee, which is a better choice for those with armour thyroid as the coffee is typically made with steamed hot water and leaves little room for interaction with the medication.
The Alternatives To Coffee
Given the potential effects coffee can have on any individual and particularly those on armour thyroid, there are potential alternatives available that allow for the provision of energy, with the same potential taste associated with coffee.
One of these options is the use of coffee alternative beverages. These can range from products like chaga tea, matcha tea, and yerba mate. These teas are all grown organically, but critically offer an alternative to coffee without the presence of caffeine or acidic content.
In addition, there are specific coffee alternatives such as Teeccino, Roastaroma, and Buddha’s Blend. These are great organic coffee alternatives that contain various organic ingredients such as carob, barley, chicory, and even dandelion; with the appearance and taste being very similar to that of coffee.
The Precautionary Approach
Ultimately, the combination of coffee with armour thyroid should be taken, as with any situation where a combination of different elements is brought together, with precaution. It is always better to be safe than sorry and consulting with a certified medical professional should be the first and foremost course of action when considering making any changes to one’s lifestyle.
In addition, when approaching any beverage, it is important to be mindful of its potential effects; particularly with the presence of medications. Moderation is key, and when it comes to coffee, this combination should be approached delicately so as to avoid any further complications that may arise.
The Effects On Taking Coffee On An Empty Stomach
Of course, it is always recommended to consume any medication with adequate amounts of water. That said, when it comes to armour thyroid and coffee, it is particularly recommended that coffee is not taken on an empty stomach. Consequently, it is important to be mindful of what constitutes an empty stomach as this can differ from person to person.
Generally, an empty stomach would result in a lack of food in the stomach, leading to an empty feeling. This means that no food should be eaten for around eight hours before taking armour thyroid and drinking coffee. The aim of this alternative is to avoid any of the defensive mechanisms that the stomach undertakes when an acidic substance enters it.
The Historical Evidence Of Caffeine
Finally, when engaging in the consumption of coffee and armour thyroid, it is important to consider one’s own lifestyle. This is best done by looking at past experiences involving the combination of coffee and armour thyroid and more broadly coffee itself. In doing so, one can decently evaluate the effects of coffee consumption, and the extent to which it has had a negative or positive effect on them.
In addition, to better understand the caffeine consumption and its various effects associated, it is useful to consider caffeine’s historical significance. Caffeine is believed to have been consumed since the 9th century, and over time, it has resulted in various adaptations as it was discovered to have various applications in medicine and culture, specifically in the form of coffee.
