I Counted Antioxidants in My Coffee

I used to research everything I put in my body. Everything. Cold brew became my morning ritual because it was "gentler on my stomach." I'd steep it for exactly 18 hours, dilute it precisely, and convince myself this choice mattered. Hot coffee had more antioxidants, but cold brew had less acid. I'd stand in my kitchen calculating which version of caffeine deserved my approval. The truth? I wasn't protecting my stomach. I was feeding something else entirely—this need to optimize every single decision, to turn even my morning coffee into evidence that I was doing it right. Last week, I ordered a regular hot coffee without researching anything first. It tasted like coffee. That's it. I'm learning that not everything needs to be perfect. Not even the things that seem harmless. #FoodOptimization #HealthAnxiety #ControlIsExhausting #Health #Diet