A steaming mug of coffee is the only thing capable of dragging me out of the house every single morning, and I am most definitely not the only one. A strong kick of caffeine is what gets me through the chaos of work and social life.
But I have often come across people who like to label others as coffee addicts and continue to relay the side effects of this popular beverage. For someone like me who consumes just two cups of coffee a day, it is hard to process this information.
If you too are wondering how much damage coffee is causing your mental health, then keep reading on as we are about to bust the myth behind this. Several studies have been conducted over the years to determine how safe coffee is and the amount that can be safely consumed in a day.
Effects on Brain Health
It has been found that coffee does affect your brain health!
Your cognitive health can benefit from coffee only if and when consumed in moderate quantities. This is due to the countless bioactive compounds found naturally in coffee that add to its benefits.
A huge amount of these bioactive compounds are antioxidants, which as we all know, are good for our bodies. These antioxidants are beneficial in battling the harm that is a consequence of the free radicals present in our bodies.
The primary effect of caffeine is in maintaining your neural activity and preventing drowsiness to take over you during the day. This is because caffeine binds with certain receptors in our brain to combat adenosine.
What is Adenosine? It is that neurotransmitter in our brain which is responsible for promoting sleep. Caffeine, on the other hand, is responsible for keeping you alert and encourages the central nervous system by actively stimulating it.
If you are one of those who have stayed away from coffee thinking it was bad for your health, then it is time you get yourself a coffee machine. Don’t stress out over the cost, visit DealMeCoupon for compelling discounts that can’t be missed.
Caffeine as A Brain
Caffeine can readily improve and boost a lot many brain functions that lead to an enhanced capacity for processing information. This eventually increases resting brain atrophy, which is essential for the various functions of the brain.
Other important neurotransmitters like dopamine which is responsible for our emotional responses, serotonin which normalizes the mood, temperature of the body, and appetite, and lastly, noradrenaline which functions in combination with adrenaline for many heart-related functions.
Here are a few worth mentioning functions that are improved through a moderate intake of caffeine.
- Mood
- Observation
- Reaction time
- Learning ability
- Retention
- Vigilance
- Overall mental well-being
A Word of Caution
Caffeine works like a drug in the way that it kicks in with a jolt of energy that makes you feel aware of your surroundings. When consumed regularly, the effect might start getting subtle as your body develops a tolerance towards it.
This may urge some people to start consuming a higher amount of caffeine to feel the same rush as before. However, this is inappropriate and unadvisable as it could cause more harm than good, both physically and mentally.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) emphasizes minimizing the consumption of coffee to 400 milligrams a day. That is roughly around 4 to 5 cups of coffee for a healthy adult to steer clear of any dangerous or adverse side effects.
Coffee has always been an active source in fighting off fatigue and feelings of tiredness. This could easily be turned around if you started consuming coffee in the latter half of the day. This can significantly impact your quality of sleep resulting in a lazy you the following day.
Some other medical conditions that limit you from having coffee are pregnancy, lactation, caffeine sensitivity or allergy, or some other underlying medical conditions. It is best if you consult your doctor for permission before consuming this beverage.
The Gist
A famous saying goes, “Too much of a good thing is not good”.
This holds very much true in this scenario. A moderate amount of coffee consumption might be beneficial for your overall health and mental well-being. But like with every good thing in life, it must not exceed an alarming quantity.
If you are a devoted coffee drinker who can never say no to coffee, then you might want to start cutting down on your coffee intake. Not only does the caffeine keep building up in your body, but it also makes you immune to the point where no amount of coffee can bring you that joyous rush of energy.
Excessive intake of coffee can reportedly cause jitters, heart palpitations, anxiety, and sleep disruption. All of which have a lasting impact on your quality of life. A healthy lifestyle incorporates a balance of all things, including a good healthy diet and beverages.
