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

Can I drink coffee?
Is coffee part of your morning ritual? Is it the caffeine or the comfort factor? Otters may not be too happy about this, but Otters need to eliminate coffee from their diets! We know, we know. This is a tough one! For many Otters, caffeine is not going to help you get through your day as much as you might think it does. It will actually cause you to crash and burn. Now you don’t want that, do you?

Your Diet Typing test results show that sugar is not the best thing for you. Caffeine can affect the blood in the same manner that carbohydrates/sugar does – it acidifies the blood and aggravates hypoglycemic symptoms. You are someone who can feel fatigued from caffeine because of its effect on blood pH and blood sugar levels.

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. But since you Otters are not drinking it, that is kind of a moot point – unless you are serving it to your Monkey friends!

Decaf coffee?
Well, what about Decaf? 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. However, for Otters, it is best just to eliminate it from your diet.

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! Otters, as we discussed above, do not tolerate sugar well, and consequently should not consume sugary sodas or teas.

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. Otters need to avoid sugar because you do not feel your best drinking it. If you are just barely breaking a sweat, you really do not need a sports drink. Stick to plain water. For the endurance athlete who needs some replenishment, dilute your sports drinks ½ and ½ with water. Or better yet, take some electrolyte tablets with water and get your calories from proteins and fats such as nuts, meat, eggs, protein bars and the like.

IS JUICE OKAY FOR otterS?
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. Vegetable juices are lower in calories and are allowed on the Otter Diet, but we still recommend that you eat more fresh vegetables vs. juice. Again, sugar will acidify the blood pH and worsen symptoms of low blood sugar typically experienced by the Otter Diet Type.

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 Otter Diet