[EllaC]

I was a coffee addict many years ago, but gave it up cold turkey when I developed atrial fibrillation and learned that caffeine might be a causative factor. By the time that all attempts to return my heart to sinus rhythm had failed, I no longer seemed to need coffee much, but on a visit to Brazil encountered guarana. Fortunately it was not available at home, but I used to buy stocks when visiting my brother in Boston who lives in an area with a substantial Brazilian population. In place of coffee I had been swilling quantities of fruit juice until I discovered that it was driving me to the threshold of type 2 diabetes. Fruit juice is not necessarily 'healthy', particularly on its own or at the beginning of a meal. Eat whole fruit instead, and at the end of a meal rather than the beginning. When my blood pressure was getting out of control I gave up the guarana though I don't think that my still limited caffeine intake was really a factor - the research in that area seems contradictory. Getting a single serve coffee machine into the house last year has been a backward step - the pods are a very expensive way of buying coffee and are terrible environmentally, but on the occasions I still get a coffee urge it is far too easy to indulge.

Nice to see you here again, Abi.

sorry to hear about you're heart problems. I hope its under control now. I too have the odd "episode" so another reason for giving up the coffees.
it is hard to give up caffeine. here I was thinking I was doing really well when I was infact still getting a form of caffeine on a daily basis based on what Abi has said which I've sinced researched and found out shes bang on! Guess its back to the drawing board! Need to find something that will give a little boost in the mornings that isn't bad for us!