Everyone who has stayed up late, whether to study or relax, knows of the energy-providing elixir known as coffee, the lifeline that keeps us awake during the day after a long sleepless night. But is caffeine really a magical cure-all, or has it been sabotaging us behind our backs?
Pros:
1. Concentration: The caffeine in coffee is effective in increasing concentration and focus. It is also helpful in productivity due to its ability to surge mental and physical energy.
2. Headache Relief: In small doses, caffeine can alleviate pain caused by headaches, however, depending on the person can also make it worse.
3. Boosts Metabolic Rate: Caffeine has been linked to an increase in metabolic rate due to its energy-providing effects.
4. Heart Health: Coffee can positively affect cardiovascular health by improving control over blood pressure.
5. Additional Health Benefits: Coffee has also been linked to various other health benefits including liver protection, protection against Type 2 Diabetes, and slowing of Dementia progression.
Cons:
The effects of coffee can vary widely - the type of coffee, the way its prepared, the extra additions, and the kind of roast can all influence how coffee impacts the body. Different people may also have different responses to caffeine.
1. Calcium Loss: Consumption of coffee can cause extra calcium loss through urine. This can make people who drink coffee more at risk of osteoporosis, a condition in which the bones become brittle. This can be combatted by adding milk into coffee.
2. Weight Gain: Increased coffee consumption can lead to cravings for sugary and fatty foods.
3. Sleep Loss: The caffeine in coffee takes around 6 hours to pass through the system. Drinking coffee before sleep can cause sleep loss. Switching to de-caffeinated coffee will reduce the sleep depriving effects.
Caffeine Addiction:
Caffeine addiction is excessive long-term consumption of caffeinated drinks to the point that it impacts health and social life. Consuming caffeine daily (for example drinking coffee every day), can create a dependence. Too much caffeine can initially cause increased heart rate, dizziness, headaches, and shaking. Once a dependence has been established, it is very difficult to quit. Caffeine withdrawal symptoms include slow reaction time, reduced memory, fatigue, and irritability. Symptoms like these make it difficult to quit - people instead drink more caffeinated drinks to combat the symptoms of the withdrawal, essentially strengthening the addiction.
Do you have a caffeine addiction?
There are a few steps that you can take to find out if you're addicted to caffeine:
1. Approximate the amount of coffee or caffeine you consume on a daily basis. Remember that different drinks can contain different amounts of caffeine.
2. Take note of side effects or symptoms that you experience after consuming caffeine.
3. Take notes of symptoms you experience when you do not consume caffeine. If you tend to feel much worse when you do not consume caffeine, you may be experiencing withdrawal.
Overcoming a Caffeine Addiction:
The best way to overcome an addiction is gradually reducing caffeine consumption. Create a plan to reduce your intake and be prepared to face withdrawal symptoms. You can manage withdrawal symptoms by getting more sleep, drinking water, and engaging in physical activities.
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Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board
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