By By: Nawal Samdani
Staff-Writer
Whether you are clinging to a travel mug on your way to class or rushing out to refuel with an iced drink from one of the shops in Ash’s Sip & Study column, it’s impossible to imagine a day without coffee. The caffeine refreshes you, and there is something incredible about the soothing, rich flavor.
Many of us, especially students during exam season, rely on many cups of coffee to help us stay alert to get us through the day. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, about 80% of U.S. adults take some form of caffeine every day. Knowing the symptoms and its long-term effects on your body may cause you to think twice about having numerous cups each day.
Read on to learn all about the positive and negative effects of caffeine.
With small, occasional cups of coffee, there are many long-term possible health benefits. Medical News Today says fresh, high-quality coffee has shown to reduce risk of developing Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease by 45 percent. It may also help with weight loss. Coffee also appears to have protective effects on the liver; research shows that people who drink coffee have a lower risk of developing liver diseases. More research also shows benefits against depression and stroke.
So, what happens as soon as you have your first sip?
- Within 10-20 minutes: Blood pressure and heat rate raises as well as increased attentiveness.
- Within 30-40 minutes: Our body produces more hormones, which results in dilated pupils that may sharpen vision for a short time.
- Within four hours: Cellular metabolism increases, which speeds up the burning of energy. The body will break down stored fats as a result.
- Within six hours: Approximately half of the caffeine consumed leaves the body.
Conversely, coffee can have many drawbacks. Caffeine can cause nervousness, anxiety and even an upset stomach if more than the recommended amount – 400 mg or about two cups – is consumed per day.
Caffeine increases the amount of acid in your stomach, which may cause heartburn or an upset stomach. Excessive caffeine may cause rapid or irregular heartbeat, trouble breathing or an even more serious condition: osteoporosis, which is bone thinning, says the Mayo Clinic. Caffeine in large amounts may interfere with absorption and metabolism of calcium that can contribute to bone thinning. People who consumed more than three cups of coffee a day were also more likely to suffer a heart attack.
The science behind the energy boost:
Contrary to popular belief, caffeine does not actually provide us with more energy. According to Physical Science, coffee enters the body through the bloodstream and binds with neurotransmitters – chemical messengers that help nerve cells communicate with each other – to stop the uptake of a chemical known as adenosine, the chemical signal that lets you know you are tired.
To a nerve cell, caffeine looks like adenosine; caffeine attaches itself to the adenosine receptor and speeds up the nerve cell; dopamine levels then increase, which provides an alert and focused feeling. Simply put, caffeine stops the body from telling the mind that you are fatigued.
The bottom line is that light-to-moderate caffeine intake provides impressive health benefits while supplying us with an “energy” boost, and about two cups a day is adequate to experience positive effects. On the other hand, high amounts may cause serious health issues as well as interfering with daily tasks.
