116: Why Most Coffee Is Slowly Destroying Your Health…

Coffee can be both a tool and a toxin, depending on how it's grown, prepared and used. In this episode, I take a closer look at caffeine and coffee through a practical lens — what science says, what I've experienced, and what really determines whether that morning cup helps or harms you.

Caffeine blocks adenosine, which makes you feel less tired and can improve focus and performance. I've noticed that benefit myself when coffee happens to precede a workout, though I've also learned the hard way that more isn't better. Once, before a 100-meter race, I overdid it with caffeine pills and ended up jittery and nauseous — proof that even biohacks have limits.

For most people, moderate coffee consumption can support alertness and provide antioxidants that are otherwise missing from a typical Western diet. But caffeine doesn't create energy — it just masks fatigue. It can raise cortisol, interfere with deep sleep, and build dependency if you rely on it to function. 

That's why I now drink coffee for the ritual and enjoyment, not as a crutch. My cutoff is late morning, around 10 or 11 a.m., because even if I fall asleep easily, caffeine too late still reduces slow-wave sleep and recovery.

What's changed most for me is the kind of coffee I drink. Many conventional beans are contaminated with pesticides, glyphosate, mold, and mycotoxins such as ochratoxin A, which may be why some people feel worse after drinking coffee. 

My wife and I wanted something cleaner, so we started sourcing beans from a small regenerative farm in Costa Rica — hand-harvested, sun-dried, and lab-tested for over 300 pesticides, mold and toxins (all of which came back zero).

That coffee became Terra Lava, and it reshaped my view of what "healthy" coffee can be. The key is intention: drink less but better, choose purity over convenience, and see coffee not as stimulation but as connection and ritual.

Learn more:

Subscribe to Terra Lava Coffee and enjoy 10% off every delivery — fresh, toxin-free beans straight from our Costa Rican farm to your door: https://terralava.com/collections/all

18: What I Eat in an Animal-Based Diet + My Go-To Food Choices and Supplements: https://www.primalshiftpodcast.com/what-i-eat-in-an-animal-based-diet-my-go-to-food-choices-and-supplements/

In this episode:
00:00 Introduction: The coffee debate
01:15 The benefits of coffee and caffeine
03:09 The downsides of coffee consumption
07:46 The hidden toxins in coffee
11:07 Discovering clean coffee: A personal journey
13:33 Introducing Terra Lava Coffee
15:31 Tips for enjoying coffee responsibly
20:52 Conclusion: Coffee as a ritual and connection

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• Website: https://michaelkummer.com/

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• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/michaelkummer/

• Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/mkummer82

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realmichaelkummer/

[Medical Disclaimer]

The information shared on this video is for educational purposes only, is not a substitute for the advice of medical doctors or registered dietitians (which I am not) and should not be used to prevent, diagnose, or treat any condition. Consult with a physician before starting a fitness regimen, adding supplements to your diet, or making other changes that may affect your medications, treatment plan, or overall health.

[Affiliate Disclaimer]

I earn affiliate commissions from some of the brands and products I review on this channel. While that doesn't change my editorial integrity, it helps make this channel happen. If you'd like to support me, please use my affiliate links or discount code.

#Coffee #OrganicCoffe #ToxinFreeCoffee