Healthy Living

Hey, I'm the first person to admit my complete and total addiction to coffee. A day without coffee is like ... a day without prolonged periods of wakefulness, in my case. Meaning: I depend on the stuff to function. Or at least I thought I did, until I heard Mike and Trina's story. Because this St. Petersburg, Florida couple really does depend on coffee to function, to a shocking degree. No joke.

I know what you're thinking: How much coffee can these people possibly drink? But that's just it -- neither Mike nor Trina actually drinks coffee at all. They believe that drinking coffee is "bad for their health." So they give themselves (brace yourself) coffee enemas. At least 100 coffee enemas per month. Each.

That's approximately 4 or 5 enemas per day (which, factoring in planning and prep time, takes up approximately 4 or 5 hours per day, too). Um ... WHY?! Apparently Trina started experimenting with the procedure, known as Gerson therapy, 2 years ago: "I had a lot of stomach problems, digestive problems with my kidney and my liver ... I started research and it led into coffee enemas and I really started to feel the benefit. I felt like I was living for the first time in years."

"I love the way it makes me feel," she adds. "It gives me a sense of euphoria." And while Mike initially found his wife's new hobby "disgusting," once he tried it he was hooked, too. Since they started, the two have had at least 6,000 coffee enemas combined. "We can't live without them," says Trina.

Problem is, coffee enemas can be more than merely "disgusting" -- they can be downright dangerous. According to gastroenterologist at NYU Medical Center Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa, "The bottom line is there is not any beneficial effect and there is some risk associated with any enema and, in particular, using coffee."

"Whenever you are inserting something into the rectum there is a danger of causing a tear in the lining. Over using enemas can sometimes lead to dehydration and it can basically lead to a decrease in bowel function."

Yikes! Dr. Rajapaksa also believes (along with many of her colleagues) that any claims of detoxifying properties associated with coffee enemas have been greatly exaggerated.

At least this practice probably won't ever become super poopular popular. But it makes you wonder how and why people convince themselves some crazy, potentially harmful treatment is making them feel great. And are any of the things we do for our own "good health" actually hurting us?

What's the weirdest thing you do in the name of good health?

Image via ABC