Can I drink coffee & caffeinated beverages on the Giraffe Diet?

Can I drink coffee?
Well, here is some good news for you coffee drinkers! Giraffes actually feel fine when drinking coffee. Because they tend to be alkaline blood types, they can consume the acidic coffee and not be adversely affected by it.

Is all coffee created equal?
Nope! Of course, we feel that the best coffee to purchase is coffee that has been organically grown, without pesticides and chemicals.

Decaf coffee?
Nope! We don’t recommend it. Most decaf coffee is even more laden with chemicals that have even been linked to autoimmune disorders. If you do drink decaf coffee, we recommend you drink Swiss Water decaf. You can read more about this issue in the Hauser Diet book.

What’s in your coffee?
Watch what you put in your coffee – as you can easily add unwanted calories and fat with lattes and other creamy coffee treats.

WHAT ABOUT CAFFEINATED SODAS AND TEAS?
Our opinion on drinking sodas and sugared teas is that they just provide extra unneeded calories. Most of us do not need that! Giraffes tend to tolerate sugar okay, but we feel that it is not something that should be used regularly.

Can’t I just drink "diet"?
Nope! Again, if you are trying to eat as healthy as you can and put into your body what it can use best for energy, diet drinks are not included! Although this is a controversial opinion, we feel that artificial sweeteners should not be consumed on a regular basis. You can read more about this in Chapter 8 of the Hauser Diet book called "Shop Smart".

As with any food or beverage, don’t overdo it. If you are addicted to coffee, you drink too much of it. If you must have a Diet Coke in the afternoon, you’re addicted to it.

WHAT ABOUT SPORTS DRINKS?
Are you an avid exerciser or athlete? Or do you just occasionally go to the gym or take a walk around the block? If you are relying on sports drinks, such as Gatorade and PowerAde to replenish you during and after workouts, you might be counteracting the good you’re doing by working out. Sports drinks do replenish much needed electrolytes that can be lost during an intense workout, intense being the key word here. But the main ingredient in these drinks is sugar. Just 8 ounces of a typical sports drink contains 14 grams of sugar. Yes, Monkeys must focus on a high carbohydrate diet, but more specifically, the diet should be a high complex carbohydrate diet. Monkeys should be careful to not take in too much sugar because it is very easy to do! If you are just barely breaking a sweat, you really do not need a sports drink. Stick to plain water.

IS JUICE OKAY FOR giraffeS?
Although Giraffes are allowed to eat some fruit, we recommend that they limit the amount of fruit juice that they drink. Why? Because fruit juice is basically sugar – even though it is more natural. If you are looking to lose a few pounds, drinking a large volume of fruit juice every day can really pack on the pounds. A small 4 ounce glass of orange juice is allowable, but certainly not 12 or 16 ounce bottles! Vegetable juices are lower in calories and are allowed on the Monkey Diet, but we still recommend that you eat more fresh vegetables vs. juice.

What Is Your Beverage of Choice?
We recommend good ol’ H-2-O! This is the best beverage for all Diet Types, guaranteed not to adversely affect you! Add a little lemon or lime and you’ve got a deliciously refreshing drink. Try a little sparkling water such as Pellegrino for something a little special!

NEXT: Getting Enough Fiber on the Giraffe Diet