Coffee is the number one abused drug on the planet, causing massive loss of energy and increase in vata. Coffee drinkers claim, \\\'I like the taste,\\\' but when I ask them to list the ten top foods they like only coffee stands out as a daily habit. Taste buds change to like coffee because of the energy hit and that is the addiction.

Stopping coffee all at once could lead to constipation and headaches. Instead, replace coffee gradually by experimenting with herbs in coffee. The taste for coffee and chicory was developed by the French during their civil war. Coffee was scarce during those times, and they found that chicory added body and flavor to the brew. Chicory is the root of the endive plant. Endive is a type of lettuce. The root of the plant is roasted and ground. It is added to the coffee to soften the bitter edge of the dark roasted coffee. It adds an almost chocolate flavor. Served at Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans, LA.


Reported by yoga teacher and nutritionist Donna Papania of Albuquerque, NM.