Jim,
I enjoy SurvivalBlog and have started preparing. Food storage and making some sort of preparations had been in the back of my mind since January. Then the power went out here for six hours. I treated that as a sign and got started buying food and silver.
I do have to say though that while breaking costly addictions is a great plan, caffeine has more value than just the power to keep us awake and alert. I’m a Registerd Nurse, and in my research I read that Caffeine is related to theobromine, a bronchodilator used to treat asthma. Caffeine the ability to relax constricted airways and can improve lung function temporarily. See the Cochrane article on Caffeine for Asthma. Thanks, – Dave B.
Jim & Avalanche Lily:
Addiction to caffeine products is a problem for preppers. But, also damaging to the immune and lymphatic systems of the body. Caffeine stimulates the excessive production of adrenaline from the adrenal glands. Your adrenals can become exhausted and malnourished from over-stimulation causing the whole body to begin to malfunction. The thyroid gland is actually governed by the adrenals, and if that goes you’ll have weight problems, energy problems, digestive problems, immune problems, propensity to cancer-you get the picture. I would suggest folks who currently guzzle coffee and colas instead of water, start easing themselves off. Start supplementing a few of your beverage servings with water to help kidneys and liver flush toxic substances out of the body. For improving energy: Get your hands on some ginseng tea. Ginseng has no caffeine and doesn’t act upon the adrenals, but effects another gland inside the brain. Ginseng provides this gland with nutrients and strengthens it instead of exhausting, thus providing you with wakefulness. This is one reason ginseng is so popular among Asian people. It’s good for you and helps you accomplish your goals.
Another helpful herb, though not a stimulant, is dandelion root. This delivers abundant essential minerals and vitamins to the adrenals and other glands of the body, including the liver and kidneys. If these systems are getting the nutrition they need the immune system does its job well. Dandelion combined with beet root and chicory root, herbs also high in minerals, dried and roasted will make for a tasty coffee substitute. There are affordable pre-made teas and instant beverage mixes with this combination available from various vendors. White sugar, pasteurized honey from the grocery store, high-fructose corn syrup and bleached white flour deplete the body of minerals as they require the body to add its stored mineral supplies to digesting them. These are also, highly addictive substances. Weaning yourself from these would be an excellent idea.
The adrenal glands are “mineral hogs” if your diet is deficient in minerals (as most Americans) you will get sick more often, have allergies and feel fatigued by about 3 p.m. every day. So, if you give your body what it needs, change your diet to include high mineral foods and herbs it will repair itself and stay healthy. Making lifestyle changes takes effort, time and patience, especially in regard to improving health. Best to make these changes now than in a TEOTWAWKI situation. Make changes one step at a time and that wonderful organic machine you live in (your body) will respond in amazing ways to thank you.
On a personal note: Congratulations on your marriage! You have received blessing from the Lord. No doubt God will be using your renewed family to impact our generation in significant ways. Hurray! God Bless you and yours. – K.M. In Ohio