But then you remember just what you have to look forward to. The fresh aroma coming from the kitchen is so perfect you can nearly taste it.
Ahh, caffeine.
Your favorite pot of coffee awaits you. NOW you’re ready to get up and start the day.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Caffeine is the most accepted drug in our culture. In fact, it’s so common that we often forget it’s a drug at all.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the average American consumes nearly 200 milligrams of caffeine a day. And 80 percent of Americans consume caffeine on a daily basis.
The question is: Just what are the pros and cons of caffeine consumption? And how can popular caffeinated beverages like coffee affect health?
The Pros
1. Caffeine and improved memory just might go hand in hand.
Caffeine has a lot of positive effects. And one of the most interesting is the possible ability to boost long-term memory. A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that caffeine just might make yesterday’s thoughts a little more memorable today.
According to Medical News Today, the study asked 160 participants between the ages of 18 and 30 to look at pictures before and after consumption of a 200 mg caffeine pill or a placebo. The next day, subjects were asked to look at a new set of pictures that contained previously seen images as well as new images.
Participants who took the caffeine supplement were more accurate in the identification process. The findings suggest that caffeine could have an effect on long-term memory. Now that’s something to remember.
2. That coffee habit might make consumers happier.
Studies show that caffeine may have the ability to improve mood. That’s because caffeine boosts serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline neurotransmitters in the brain known to have an effect on depression. One such study suggests that women who drink four or more cups of caffeinated coffee daily may reduce the risk of depression by 20 percent. Even more interesting, moderate caffeine consumption has also been associated with a reduced risk of suicide. In fact, drinking several cups of coffee daily may lower the risk of suicide by 50 percent. So consider indulging in a caffeinated cup of joe next time the blues hit. It just might make a difference.
3. Caffeine makes the morning drive to work perkier.
The most well-known benefit of caffeine is obvious. It wakes you up. And it does so in a speedy manner. Caffeine peaks in your blood within an hour, and the effects can last for four to six hours. That’s why we crave it on that early-morning drive. So just why does caffeine perk us up? The reason for this is that caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. So it makes people feel more awake and alert. Remember that the next time drowsiness hits.
4. Tons of athletes swear it improves performance.
Many in the exercise and fitness industry swear by caffeine. In fact, they make caffeine supplements a regular part of most exercise routines.
But why?
To find out, we talked to Mike and Kari Ott. This energetic fitness duo regularly uses caffeine as a performance enhancer.
“It’s something that’s been tried and true for years. It’s a natural stimulant,” says Kari, a veteran fitness instructor with a master’s degree in public health. “I use caffeine before every single workout.”
Her husband, Mike, feels that caffeine gives him the edge needed as a fitness instructor. “I feel more focused when I’m instructing, and I have more energy to give my students my best,” Mike says. In addition, he used caffeine supplements as a part of his former career as a professional athlete. “I was a professional cyclist and always used caffeine before racing,” Ott says. “It helped keep me alert because things can happen so quickly.”
That said, caffeine is only a temporary solution. “Athletes should know that it’s not an endurance thing because it’s fast acting,” Ott says.
5. Caffeine may protect against neurodegenerative diseases.
Evidence suggests that caffeine can help to protect against some neurodegenerative diseases. It is thought that the consumption of moderate amounts of coffee during middle age may reduce the risk of dementia in late life.
Research published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine supports this belief.
"There is substantial evidence that caffeine is protective against neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease," said David Elmenhorst, MD, lead author of Caffeine Occupancy of Human Cerebral A1 Adenosine Receptors," in a press release. “The present study provides evidence that typical caffeine doses result in a high A1 adenosine receptor occupancy and supports the view that the A1 adenosine receptor deserves broader attention in the context of neurodegenerative disorders."
6. Caffeinated coffee might have benefits when it comes to Type 2 diabetes.
Could caffeinated coffee actually reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes? The answer is yes. According to a study led by the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), increased caffeinated coffee intake can reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes significantly. Participants who increased their coffee intake by more than a cup a day over a period of four years decreased their risk by 11 percent. However, those who cut coffee consumption by more than one cup per day increased their risk by 17 percent. Interestingly, decaffeinated coffee had no effect. Now that’s food for thought.
The Cons
1. You just might want to do the Jitterbug.
There’s nothing more frustrating than consuming too much caffeine. That’s because it can make consumers feel jittery. Caffeine is a stimulant. Consequently, it can cause restlessness, fast heartbeat and shakiness. So just how much caffeine is too much?
According to the Mayo Clinic, the safe limit of caffeine is about 400 milligrams a day. That’s approximately four cups of coffee. However, adolescents should only consume 100 mg per day. To avoid the jitters, stick with these guidelines. And know that some may be more sensitive to caffeine than others, thus creating a need for a lower limit.
2. It’s addictive.
Getting off that daily coffee regimen might be tough. In fact, some suffer from caffeine withdrawal syndrome. Don’t dismiss this with a laugh. Caffeine withdrawal syndrome is an official diagnosis from the World Health Organization (WHO). Symptoms can range from a headache to flulike symptoms. So make it a point to get off of caffeine slowly. Wein yourself in a time frame that feels comfortable to you.
3. It’s a diuretic.
Caffeine is a diuretic, so it actually dehydrates the body. To combat this, it’s necessary to take precautions. “Drink extra water when you’re taking in caffeine,” Kari Ott says. “For every eight ounces of caffeine you might ingest, you’re going to want to have an extra cup of water to counteract that.”
Remember this the next time you grab a cup of joe before a daily workout. You’re going to need that extra dose of H20.