7 Reasons Coffee’s Unhealthy (+ Optional: How to Avoid Giving It Up)

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You’re not alone in wondering why so many people say coffee is bad for us. It’s a common question among Americans, and the answer is more nuanced than we’re often led to believe. In this article, 7 Reasons Coffee’s Unhealthy, we’ll look at the specific reasons coffee is harmful to health and discuss what you can do if you’d prefer not to give it up entirely.

(Personal note: I still believe coffee should be replaced with an alternative, but I provide two partial solutions for those who’d rather not.)

7 Reasons Coffee Isn’t Healthy:

1. One well-documented concern is that coffee changes estrogen metabolism and often increases estrogen levels.
2. Over time, regular coffee consumption can negatively affect the liver, gall bladder and bile ducts, placing added strain on organ systems that are central to detoxification and digestion.
3. We’re often told that coffee’s polyphenols are beneficial, but they can actually slow detoxification by inhibiting the ALDH enzyme. This slowing of detox is one reason people may feel better temporarily, even though underlying issues remain unaddressed. Polyphenols in coffee have also been linked to the reduced production of digestive enzymes.
4. For pregnant women: Because most people who drink coffee drink caffeinated, it’s also noteworthy that caffeine causes intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) in fetuses of pregnant women. This study was a really important one showing the importance of avoiding caffeine during pregnancy. It also showed, “… higher susceptibility to multiple diseases after birth, related to multi-organ development”. As my doctor says, “Caffeine is liquid stress.”
   • This additional study shows profound effects on the sons of women who drank coffee while pregnant: “Maternal coffee consumption … was associated with lower semen volume … “, more abnormal sperm and smaller testis size. Inherited toxicity is showing up here in grown men, who are less fertile. (Note: Women, please do not drink coffee while pregnant.)
5. For men who care about their fertility: This study shows a direct correlation between coffee intake and sperm concentration. Sperm concentration goes down significantly the more coffee you drink. This study, additionally, shows sperm DNA damage from coffee drinking.
6. Although coffee addiction is widely accepted in our culture, it can contribute to real nutrient deficiencies, which is a serious issue for anyone focused on long-term health. Coffee specifically depletes magnesium, zinc, iron, calcium, vitamin D, vitamin B1 and the mineral molybdenum. Molybdenum is a lesser-known but essential trace mineral required for detoxing excess copper in the body. Without adequate molybdenum (1:15), the body struggles to manage copper and other toxins effectively.
7. This helps explain why coffee causes some people to feel shaky or jittery. A key factor is the amount of copper stored in the liver. When coffee, regular or decaf, is consumed, the liver initiates the release of copper through bile. As bile is excreted, some copper can spill into the bloodstream, where it may trigger jitters, anxiety and heart palpitations.
   • Fun Fact: The bile dump coffee causes is why some people use coffee to stay regular. Bile dumps often stimulate a bowel movement.

How excess copper behaves in the body

Copper behaves much like an electrical current, creating a kind of false wired energy in tissues and cells. These symptoms are classic signs of copper toxicity, which also helps explain why coffee has estrogenic effects, as copper and estrogen are closely linked in the body. 

(Estrogen [and phytoestrogens from the diet] increase copper levels, and high copper can hinder estrogen detoxification, creating a cycle where they influence each other, with excess copper disrupting estrogen balance and vice versa.)

If you wake up at 3 a.m., struggle with constipation or ever have panic attacks, these are also copper symptoms.

Intro to molybdenum

Some people use L-theanine to counter these effects because it can chelate copper, but this approach doesn’t address the root cause (and the benefits often don’t last). L-theanine deficiency isn’t the issue; the real problem is often a lack of molybdenum.

Molybdenum plays a critical role in the body by helping break down drugs, toxins and purines. It’s also a cofactor for xanthine oxidase, the enzyme responsible for detoxifying caffeine. Without enough molybdenum, the negative effects of coffee and caffeine become far more noticeable.

One way to not give up coffee

For those who aren’t willing to give up coffee, supporting the body with molybdenum can make a meaningful difference.

Multivitamins or multi-minerals that contain molybdenum are usually not ideal, as they often include unwanted nutrients, such as extra copper, which works against the goal of binding and removing excess copper. A more targeted approach using individual vitamins and minerals is preferable.

This supplement is the molybdenum our family takes daily. The dose and product are both ideal (for most people).

Another supplement for coffee drinkers

Another supplement worth serious consideration is zeolite. Zeolite binds excess copper released by the liver and helps escort it safely out of the body.

Learning what zeolite is and how to choose the right type can be an important step in supporting detoxification. Learn more about which zeolite and how to dose it here.

If I were a coffee drinker, I’d make sure both molybdenum and zeolite were in place.

My husband enjoys decaf and uses both supplements, even without the added challenge of caffeine.

Testing before supplementing

For those unsure where to begin, working with a knowledgeable practitioner who uses blood and hair testing can help identify individual needs and create a more precise, effective plan.

I recommend my doctor, partially because his interpretations of hair and blood tests are more accurate than any other doctor I’ve worked with, and partially because of his incredible dietary wisdom and understanding of physiology. The result is long term wellness that ancestral and functional doctors can’t provide.

Good coffee alternatives

For those looking for an alternative to coffee, the healthiest options are:

• Barley Coffee: Orzo Organic Instant here or Filter grind here.
• Roasted Dandelion Root Tea
• Barley Tea (Japanese)

Related articles:

• How to Supplement Zinc (and Zinc’s Role in the Body)
• Potassium Water recipe
• Gallbladder Health: Gallstones, Bile and Healing

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