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nikola
nikola Member Posts: 466
edited June 2014 in Complementary and Holistic Medicine and Treatment

Hello,

I am 42 and being diagnosed with BC in March. Had double mastectomy with DIEP same day. I am ER/PR + and still waiting for Her2 results. I cut red meat (actualy stop eating completelly) and increased my fruit and vegetable.

My problem is coffee. I stopped drinking regular and switched to decaffeneted. Is that OK or should I stop drinking it, too?

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  • LtotheK
    LtotheK Member Posts: 2,095
    edited July 2010

    Decaf can be full of chemicals from the decaffienating process.  My naturopath told me to relax, if I have a cup of coffee a day, it's not the end of the world, and she said not to replace with decaf.  Just make sure to get plenty of other fluids in there.  

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  • Deirdre1
    Deirdre1 Member Posts: 1,461
    edited July 2010

    I don't know about the coffee, but I did exactly the same thing (but I drink tea instead of coffee), In the past I had never had a cholesteral problem until I started eating almost nothing but fruits and veg.. so be careful, all things in moderation is my approach now..  and I had DCIS and a bi-lateral mastectomy too.  I thought it was a good time to change my eating habits for what I thought was the better only to find out that my cholesteral was off the charts after wards and I had created a different health risk.. I am now trying for a mediterranian type diet (which is probably closer to my normal diet anyway).  Good luck, I do understand the intent of trying to free the body of potential hazards!  Best, Deirdre

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  • Raili
    Raili Member Posts: 435
    edited July 2010

    My naturopath, too, told me at my first appointment when I was worrying about my coffee habit, "Don't worry, I'm not going to micromanage your coffee intake!" :)  I drink organic, fair-trade, locally-roasted, fully caffeinated coffee with organic cream, and I don't worry too much about it.

    I cut out sugar completely from my diet, which I feel is more important for me.  I severely reduced white flour, processed foods, soy, and dairy.  I haven't eaten chicken or meat for 9 years, but I started eating salmon and seafood again and forced myself to learn to love sardines.  I eat mainly fruits and vegetables, going by the chart in Dr. David Servan-Schrieber's book, re: which fruits and vegetables are the BEST for killing/preventing breast cancer.  So when I'm literally eating meals of brussels sprouts and sardines, omega-3 organic local eggs scrambled with garlic and kale, etc., I don't feel bad for enjoying a lovely cup of coffee in the morning. :) 

    Edited to add - my naturopath prescribed me green tea extract (in liquid form or capsules), dosage that's equivalent to 8-10 cups of green tea per day.  I could never DRINK that much green tea... but on the rare occasion when I think I should take a break from coffee, I do so by only taking half my green tea dose that day and then drinking 2 mugs of green tea (with two teabags/servings each), with milk or cream, and a sweetener like honey, xylitol, or stevia... and I sort of pretend it's coffee.  Okay, it's really not as satisfying as coffee, but sometimes it works for me. :)

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  • MariannaLaFrance
    MariannaLaFrance Member Posts: 777
    edited July 2010

    I cannot seem to kick my 2 cup coffee with cream habit. I tried,ladies, I tried HARD!  I so wish I could drop it, but it's an extreme addiction. I am considering reducing my intake, but will do so when I am not training at 5 am for a 150 mile bike ride for breast cancer.... so come October, switching to 1C a day!!

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  • seaotter
    seaotter Member Posts: 1,083
    edited July 2010

    I found an organic low acid coffee that I really enjoy. I am at work right now and can't look up the brand. If anyone is interested I will find out and post it.

    Patty

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  • calamtykel
    calamtykel Member Posts: 1,187
    edited July 2010

    I love my coffee too.  I only drink organic decaf mixed with a little shot of organic regular.  I take it with just stevia, no sugar or artificial sweeteners.  My alternative medicine doctor says coffee does a real number on your adrenals, but  I'm not worrying too much about it since mix with decaf and use a LOT of milk, which we get from a local farm.   Trader joe's is a great place to get all kinds of organic coffee, and Sam's club sells the Marquis de Paiva brand and that's awesome too.  

    I haven't needed the caffeine since I found out about all of this - and my system's been going on adrenelin anyway.  Now that I had the surgery yesterday, I may need that little kick of caffeine again.

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  • CrunchyPoodleMama
    CrunchyPoodleMama Member Posts: 1,220
    edited July 2010

    One cup a day is probably fine by any standards, but DEFINITELY drink organic.

    MHP is right about decaf being full of chemicals, but there is a decaf process that does NOT use all those nasty chemicals -- it's called Swiss Water Process. 

    There are also ways to brew coffee that reduce the acid... such as by double-brewing (using the same grounds twice and throwing away the first batch which is highly acidic) or by cold-water brewing (stir the grounds into filtered water and let it sit for a few days, stirring occasionally). I'm too lazy to do either of those things so I just drink organic for my first cup, organic Swiss water processed decaf if I feel like a second cup, and don't worry about it!

    There is a drink called Teecino that is also a good healthy coffee substitute. It's organic and is made of dates, nuts, chicory, etc. and is brewed like coffee. Very satisfying coffee-like taste.

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  • AnneW
    AnneW Member Posts: 4,050
    edited July 2010

    Some I know mentioned the Teecino beverage to me the other day. You grind it and brew it like coffee. Google it, and you'll find the flavors they have, and perhaps where to buy it. Our local Whole Foods carries it. If it tastes enough like coffee, really, I might consider giving up coffee again...

    Anne

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  • CrunchyPoodleMama
    CrunchyPoodleMama Member Posts: 1,220
    edited July 2010

    BTW, speaking of coffee -- consider using a percolator or French press! I realized a while back that our fancy-schmancy Cuisinart shoots hot water and coffee through PLASTIC at several points. We should NOT be drinking coffee with plastic chemicals leached into it! This means I also had to give up my beloved Keurig. Well, convenience is not worth the price of cancer!! Besides, the all-stainless-steel percolator I use now isn't any more time-consuming or hard to clean than the Cuisinart coffee maker!

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  • meliss
    meliss Member Posts: 31
    edited July 2010

    I have not given up coffee. I drink organic, several cups a day.  Lots of studies show coffee has health benefits, so I'm staying with it. I've had to give up lots of things, and giving up coffee would probably be harder than just about anything for me right now!

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  • MsBliss
    MsBliss Member Posts: 536
    edited July 2010

    Is instant coffee a no-no? 

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  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 738
    edited July 2010

    Julia...of course!  When I was growing up, we had a stainless steel percolator.  I've been wondering about that plastic strainer in my cuisinart also.

    What brand did you find that is all stainless steel?  I really want me one of those:)

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  • CrunchyPoodleMama
    CrunchyPoodleMama Member Posts: 1,220
    edited July 2010

    Luna, it's called Presto... I ordered it from Amazon. Every component is stainless... LOVE that! (Some percolators have copper or aluminum elements which I didn't want.)

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  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 738
    edited July 2010

    Thank you!  That is exactly what I need!  You are the best!  Keep that healthy info coming:):):)

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  • MsBliss
    MsBliss Member Posts: 536
    edited July 2010

    Any thoughts on instant coffee?

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  • calamtykel
    calamtykel Member Posts: 1,187
    edited July 2010

    mmmmm...coffee.  :)  I read a couple of conflicting things, but for ER positive, it was GOOD news, the report I read.

    However, ALL coffee is not alike!  Coffee is imported - chemicals are used that are not approved here in the US.  I cannot drink regular coffee - nor decaf - or I get RIPPING migraines.  When I switched to all organic, the migraines went away.  Organic coffee is a WHOLE different animal!    I can't believe how I suffered with those migraines, not knowing where they came from.

    My chiropractor told me years ago that decaf is the worst thing you can drink if it's NOT chemically decaffeinated.  They decaf it with the use of solvents which are VERY bad for the cells in your body.  He told me this before I had cancer.

    Trader Joe's carries WONDEFUL organic coffee that isn't that expensive, and Marques de Paiva also ships their coffee everywhere and it's not that bad!  they also sell it at Sam's club -so you don't have to spend an absolute fortune on organic coffee.  A $10 coffee grinder is WELL worth the money!   I'm such a coffee snob now - I drink it with vanilla stevia and raw whole milk; sometimes I add some organic coconut milk to reduce my cow's milk consumption.  :)  I mix the organic decaf and regular so I don't get too much of a buzz. 

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  • calamtykel
    calamtykel Member Posts: 1,187
    edited July 2010

    Also, I've discovered Dandy Blend.  It's a wonderful alternative and really tastes like coffee!  I was skeptical but the health food store lady gave me a free sample and I was hooked.  Nothing bad in it.  :)

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  • calamtykel
    calamtykel Member Posts: 1,187
    edited July 2010

    thank you for the Presto recommendation.  I'm ordering one today! :D  Does the coffee taste pretty much the same when processed through a perc?

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  • CrunchyPoodleMama
    CrunchyPoodleMama Member Posts: 1,220
    edited July 2010
    It tastes better! Laughing One tip: Be sure to put the coffee grounds into the filter (the stainless steel filter that comes with it) BEFORE you insert the filter into the percolator... otherwise a few coffee grounds will get down into the coffee. Apparently you can also buy paper filters that fit percolators, to make sure no coffee grounds slip through, but I haven't felt a need to do that.
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  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 738
    edited July 2010

    I've been wondering about paper filters.  I thought about getting them for my soon to be ex-coffee maker with its plastic filter.   SHOULD we use the paper???  Are there harmful things in the paper?

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  • CrunchyPoodleMama
    CrunchyPoodleMama Member Posts: 1,220
    edited July 2010

    Luna, make sure you get unbleached... the bleached ones leak dioxins into the coffee!

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  • seaotter
    seaotter Member Posts: 1,083
    edited July 2010

    Thanks for the Presto coffee maker Crunchy. I ordered one from amazon. I can't wait to try it out!

    Peace and Blessings to all, Patty

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  • Luna5
    Luna5 Member Posts: 738
    edited July 2010

    Crunchy...I figured there was something....I will just stick with the stainless steel.  I don't mind wiping it out.

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  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 1,245
    edited July 2010
    hubby just burst my bubble, he said why go to all the trouble of getting a new coffee machine with no plastic parts, when coffee itself is carcinogenic!! I told him to shut up!!Yell 
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  • angellinda
    angellinda Member Posts: 7
    edited July 2010

    I have 1 cup of coffee a day. It hasn't tasted good or right since I started Chemo in April. I think one cup of what you enjoy can't be too harmful. I know ever since I got TN breast cancer. All of my choices were taken away.. I'm keeping this one. Best of luck to you. Best of luck & healing wellness to everyone!

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  • calamtykel
    calamtykel Member Posts: 1,187
    edited July 2010

    Has anyone tried the Filtron coffee maker?  Basically you can do it without the maker too.  It's a "cold" coffee- soaking the grounds overnight in water and then filtering it.  My brother swears by his.  I decided to give it a try but I did in a glass bowl.  The coffee was VERY good the next morning however, it took a lot of grounds to get it to be "coffee" even after 24 hours.   Then you can mix it with heated milk or heat it in a stainless steel pot.  It removes the acidity - it was definitely more smooth - so if the acid is bothersome to your stomach, it's an alternative.

    I've been reading a lot of the reviews online of all the different percolators and I'm going to order my Presto today.  :)    Fairy - no evidence that coffee is carcinogenic; especially if you're drinking organic or naturally decaf.  :)  

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  • fairy49
    fairy49 Member Posts: 1,245
    edited July 2010

    hubby's theory is that coffee is roasted, therefore anything that is burned is essentially carcinogenic, I think that's pushing it LOL! I like my coffee, what can I say, you have to live and I have given up sooooo many other things, I pick my battles!

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  • MsBliss
    MsBliss Member Posts: 536
    edited July 2010

    Oh please, anyone?  Instant coffee, is it a bad thing?  What about instant decaf?  I guess the obvious here--that if the coffee used to make instant is not organic or swiss water decaf, then it is not a safe drink.  But does anyone know if this is just a trace chemical issue or a serious one?

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  • althea
    althea Member Posts: 1,595
    edited July 2010

    I haven't seen anyone mention making espresso at home.  Years ago when my ex moved out, I dusted off my home espresso maker.  I made my own starbucks at home and that was my daily gift of indulgence to myself.  It was a tool for catharsis at the time.  My ex made really good coffee, and I always had a good cuppa whenever I wanted one.  So, clearly, I could make my own coffee, and was I was determined that it would be better than before. 

    I received added benefits during that time also.  I came to realize that I needed considerably less coffee, which my ever beleagered bank balance appreciated.  Plus, there's no paper filters, and no contact with plastic.  Additionally, the rapid force of the heated water moving through the coffee creates a brew with less acid than coffee made by percolating or dripping.  Caffeine is just part of the criticism that comes down on coffee.  Coffee is acidic, and most people need to be more alkaline.  So, fairy especially, I suggest you start making espresso and see how much your hubby complains then!  lol  

    Ms Bliss, your question really makes me chuckle.  Is instant coffee a bad thing?  Only if you drink it!  That's the only response I have.  Sorry.  No offense intended.  I've never been a fan, and I know nothing about how it's made.  

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  • calamtykel
    calamtykel Member Posts: 1,187
    edited July 2010

    Well, I think you could pretty much drive yourself crazy by thinking of all the things you're exposing yourself to that may "cause" cancer.  But I'm sort of of the thinking that it's an overload of many things that contribute to it.  For instance, I love raw milk - the milk we get is from holstein crosses - now I've read all sorts of things about how you should only drink milk from Jersey cows, blah blah blah because of risk of BC.  But since we don't have access to that, I'm absolutely NOT giving up my raw holstein milk.  I just love it too much.  :)  Conversely then I read another article about how raw holstein milk from cows not fed hormones has no effect at all. 

    But I've made other changes - organic coffee - ditched my plastic coffee maker - trying to eat more organic stuff, etc. etc.  Staying away from sugar and fake sweeteners and processed foods (always did that anyway and still got BC....)  Continuing my exercise routine and seeing my nutritionist, etc.  In other words, if instant coffee is your vice and you're otherwise really wise about your lifestyle it probably isn't going to "cause" cancer.   My husband's father drank instant coffee until his death at 84......  

    Hope this makes sense.  I think we could totally drive ourselves CRAZY finding every single thing that could cause BC.   For me, it's about reducing the overall "load" of toxins without so much of a lifestyle change to be really upsetting mentally.  (Yeah, I need my coffee..... ;)  

    As far as instant, I'm not sure how it's made. But I know any kind of decaf that isn't "naturally decaffeinated" does contain chemical solvents.  Since those are SO easily avoided by choosing another kind of coffee, that would be an easy change to make if it's concerning to you. 

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