Photo by Chelseagirl.

Take a second to count the number of cups of coffee or black tea you drink a day. Now consider this: these caffeine-containing beverages have zero nutritional value. Caffeine is immensely addictive and found in chocolate, sodas and many over-the-coucounter medications.

Caffeine can elevate the mood, energize, delay fatigue, and stimulate the central nervous system. It can also cause hands to tremor and the heart to palpitate. So, why is caffeine our national drug of choice?

Caffeine feeds our cultural addiction to fast-paced lifestyles. There are numerous reports on this topic, all of which you are welcome to sift through on PubMed. 

Among the health complications:

• Results in nervousness, irritability, insomnia and dizziness
• Exacerbates anxiety and lead to panic attacks
• Raises blood pressure
• Causes or aggravates heart rhythm disturbances
• Aggravates ulcers and heartburn
• Stimulates acid secretion in the stomach
• Acts as a laxative and can create dependency
• Causes loss of key nutrients, including potassium, calcium, magnesium, and zinc

During Pregnancy:

• Crosses the placenta and effects the fetus
• Enters breast milk

Next time you are reaching for a latte, consider a cup of herbal tea instead. One of Dr. Nishant’s favorite is a roasted dandelion tea. Here is a simple recipe to try.

Dr. Igor Schwartzman practices naturopathic medicine with a strong emphasis in women's health, hormone imbalances, and thyroid disorders at Whole Family Wellness Center in Portland, Oregon. He is a co-founder of WellWire.com.

Photo by Helgasms.

The risk factors of cardiovascular disease are many: family history, obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension, and smoking. Right?

Actually, there’s one missing: stress! Recent studies are solidifying the notion that physiological stress and the risk of heart disease are linked. Dr. Kassam explains what happens to your body during a stressful event and how chronic stress can affect your cardiovascular system and shares some tips on how to manage lifestyle stress.

Dr. Natasha Kassam is dedicated to facilitating the healing and wellbeing of her patients. Her passion is cardiovasular and pulmonary medicine. She practices at Bloom Natural Healthcare in NE Portland Oregon and is the host of askdrkassam.com.

Photo by asimulator.

Everything you need to know about fish oil.  Dr. Natasha goes through step by step the many benefits, research and quality issues with fish oil.  Learn how it will decrease inflammation, increase cardiovascular health and optimize the function of many systems in the body.

Dr. Natasha Kassam is dedicated to facilitating the healing and wellbeing of her patients. Her passion is cardiovasular and pulmonary medicine. She practices at Bloom Natural Healthcare in NE Portland Oregon and is the host of askdrkassam.com.