I heard that drinking caffeine can cause a spike in insulin levels. Is that true? And if so, how much caffeine?

I have now switched to drinking water and I only drink diet coke once in a while. But unfortunately, when I crave something "sweet", I drink coffee to satisfy that, and I rarely drank coffee before. For awhile I was drinking decaf, but for some reason I was really craving regular one day, drank it and boy, was I wired ALL DAY! That is not normal for me (at least before LC). I read in other posts that alcohol affects you faster when you LC, it must be the same for caffeine!?!?

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Suzanne
:butterfly

I am not familiar with caffine causing a spike in insulin. If so, my insulin would be through the roof. However, that is not the case. In DANDR, Dr. Atkins was concerned that caffine could cause sugar cravings and consequently recommended against any caffine during induction. Individual's reactions to caffine are very much a YMMV thing. I continued drinking diet cola (splenda sweetened) throughout induction without triggering any cravings and without any other adverse affect. If you get "wired" on caffine easily, then you may want to keep that in mind, but if it dosen't trigger cravings, then use it in moderation, but listen to your body and its reaction.

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Henry

According to Dr. Agatston, of South Beach fame:
"Some diets steer people toward decaf for the simple reason that caffeine does stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin, which is the last thing an overweight person needs. Still, the effect isn't all that great, and if a cup or two of coffee a day makes you happy, I think you should feel free."

I think he was speaking of moderate consumption of caffeine.

This site says this about heavy use of caffeinated coffee:

"[Heavy caffeine consumption] causes blood sugar, or blood glucose, to be released from storage through the effects of the adrenal hormones. This gives you a temporary lift but requires your pancreas to over-work. This is because your pancreas now has to produce extra insulin to reduce this extra blood sugar."

So, what I gather from this is to use caffeinated coffee in moderation. What I do, and what I say I'll do, are two separate universes. I've been known to drink two pots of the high test stuff each day. For the past two weeks, however, I've limited myself to one or two cups of the real thing, then I switch to decaf the remainder of the day. Having a cup of it right now, as a matter of fact.

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April

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Holy cow! 2 pots!?!, I have at least one cup a day, the odd thing is I don't even really like it all that much, it's just become such a part of my daily ritual that I feel lost without it.

Rather than diet coke or coffee, I drink diet ginger ale or diet root beer (no caffeine). It's been my experience (for me anyway) that caffeine and alcohol are weight loss inhibitors :(

I haven't tried it yet, but diet root beer and a little heavy cream is a recipe I've read for an root beer float substitute.

Not bad in killing the sweet tooth attack...

suzcatp,

I don't believe it!!! About the spike in insulin and caffeine.

I drink iced tea (with splenda) every day. 1.5 gallons of it. Yes, you read that correctly.

Iced tea, every day, 1.5 gallons. No coffee. Rarely cola drinks.

I've lost weight and the last time I checked my blood sugar (last week) it was 96.

Your mileage may vary, as they say but I don't believe caffeine causes spikes in your insulin.

~K

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Start Date: March 2005



Goal Date: June 25, 2006 EDIT: 2007

Keeping my eye focused on 10 pounds at a time!