Should You Become A Coffee Drinker?

It’s common knowledge that coffee is the holy grail of energy drinks, and it can seem like almost everyone relies on a cup of joe (or a few) to get them through the average day. However, if you’re thinking of joining in on the fun, there are a few things to consider first.

Whether you should be drinking coffee depends on your level of caffeine sensitivity, lifestyle, and overall health. If you have a heart condition, then coffee may not be a good idea. Decaf is a great alternative, or low-caffeine tea. A tolerance builds within a few days of regular use.

Despite its popularity, coffee isn’t always the healthiest option, so before you implement it into your diet, take some time to consider how it might affect you. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of drinking coffee.

Should You Be Drinking Coffee?

Student studying drinking coffee late

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and over the years it’s gone from being a breakfast beverage to a highly commercial drink with several varieties. Coffee is a positive stimulant, it boosts energy levels, and it’s known to speed up the metabolism.

The bottom line is that it provides several benefits. But, should you be drinking coffee? Well, coffee isn’t for everyone, and whether you should indulge or not depends on several factors:

Your Lifestyle

In theory, everyone can drink coffee, regardless of their lifestyle. But because of its energy-boosting properties, coffee is often associated with a highly-demanding schedule. Jitter juice best suits people that need to keep up with a busy lifestyle and remain productive for extended periods. 

Taste Preference 

One of coffee’s unique features is its distinctive, bitter taste or “mouthfeel.” It’s one of the reasons coffee’s so popular, but it’s also why so many people can’t stand it.

If you can’t get past the bitterness, try adding different milks or flavors, like mocha syrup (on Amazon). Cold brew coffee (on Amazon) is also known to have a smoother taste that you might prefer.

Caffeine Intolerance

Caffeine intolerances are rare but possible. They occur when the immune system identifies caffeine as a harmful substance. As a result, the body overproduces the stress hormone Adrenaline, which, in turn, causes symptoms like abnormal heart rhythm and nervousness.

Physical symptoms like hives and swollen lips may also appear. In most cases, caffeine intolerance isn’t a medical emergency, but it’s a sign that you should avoid coffee. 

Is Coffee Good for Your Health?

The human body benefits from coffee in many ways. For one, studies suggest that coffee drinkers are less likely to get diabetes and kidney disease. Secondly, coffee helps prevent heart failure. The following are additional benefits of drinking coffee: 

  • Improves athletic performance 
  • Boosts productivity 
  • Aids in weight management 
  • Promotes brain health 
  • Helps fight depression

As much as drinking coffee has its benefits, it also has some drawbacks. Common side effects of drinking an excessive amount of coffee include insomnia, anxiety, fatigue, and rapid heart rate. The side effects may even be as severe as muscle breakdown and high blood pressure. 

All in all, coffee isn’t inherently bad or good for your health. How you react to it depends on whether you have any caffeine-sensitive conditions and your lifestyle choices.

Your body will only reap the benefits associated with caffeine if they outweigh the potential risks. Therefore, it all comes down to moderation and personal preferences. 

How Much Coffee Should You Drink Per Day? 

The FDA recommends roughly 400 mg of caffeine a day (about 3 to 4 cups of coffee) for adults. This may seem like a lot but when put into perspective, it’s evident how easy it is to consume more caffeine than is recommended. 

It’s important to note that the daily limit in mg refers to caffeine, not coffee. Given that other drinks and food items also contain caffeine, they can add to your daily consumption. Foods that are high in caffeine include chocolate, tea, beans, sodas, energy drinks, and certain vegetables. 

Managing caffeine intake is no easy task, but it’s even harder with the rapid increase in coffee beverages. The issue with most commercial coffee beverages is that consumers don’t realize how much caffeine they’re filled with. For instance, a Venti Starbucks drink is generally prepared with three shots of espresso. One shot alone packs around 75 mg of caffeine. 

What Happens If You Drink Too Much Coffee?

When coffee enters the body, it travels to the adrenal glands to stimulate them, and they, in turn, release the hormone Adrenaline. When those glands are overstimulated as a result of excessive caffeine, the following symptoms can occur:

  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Insomnia

Given that coffee’s quite acidic, it also affects the stomach and digestive system. Over-consumption of coffee can wreak havoc on your stomach and digestive system by increasing the amount of stomach acid. 

Furthermore, caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant. The more caffeine you consume, the more your body becomes dependent on it. If you suddenly stop or reduce your caffeine intake, your body will experience withdrawal symptoms. 

Who Shouldn’t Drink Coffee?

Coffee will affect everyone to some extent, but some people show greater sensitivity to its effects. Anyone falling under the following categories should curb their caffeine habits:

  • Pregnant People: Caffeine is generally not recommended for people who are expecting, because it affects the blood pressure and heart rate, both of which need to remain stable throughout the pregnancy. 
  • People With Pre-Existing Heart Conditions: Caffeine often worsens symptoms of heart conditions by affecting the heart rate and blood pressure.
  • Children Under the Age of 12: Caffeine generally has adverse effects on people regardless of age, but these effects tend to be more intense in children. Studies suggest that it’s probably due to children naturally being smaller and weighing less, since caffeine tolerance partially depends on overall body mass. 

Is Coffee Addictive? 

Close up of young woman drinking coffee from fine white cup

Addiction occurs when a stimulant activates the brain’s reward system through repeated use or consumption of the stimulant. As a result, the brain starts to crave the reward provided by the stimulant.

Caffeine is a stimulant and the feeling of alertness that most people crave for is the reward it provides. That’s how caffeine addiction develops. Drinking large quantities of coffee regularly will eventually cause the brain to rely heavily on it for certain functions. 

When you abruptly stop drinking coffee, signs of withdrawal may begin to appear in as little as 24 hours. Common signs of caffeine withdrawal are headaches, struggling to concentrate, and fatigue. 

What About Decaf? 

Firstly, let’s debunk the myth that decaf has zero caffeine. The truth is that decaf does contain caffeine, but at significantly lower levels than its caffeinated counterpart. For that reason, coffee drinkers tend to believe that it’s a healthier choice.

For coffee drinkers looking to cut back on their caffeine consumption without actually eliminating coffee from their diet, decaf is wonderful news. It tastes exactly like coffee but without most of the side effects. In fact, it’s known to contain antioxidants, help improve sleep, and manage anxiety. 

For many, decaf coffee (on Amazon) is a much safer option, but it’s not always the case. Some people are so sensitive to caffeine that even small quantities of it can cause harm.

Additionally, several methods are used to strip the caffeine of coffee beans. Some of those methods are questionable, as they infuse the coffee beans with toxic compounds.

The Final Word

Incorporating a moderate consumption of coffee daily can prove to be more healthful than harmful for many people. The recommended amount is 2 to 5 cups of coffee per day.

If you experience any side effects while keeping your consumption within the recommended amount, then you should cut back or lay off the caffeine.

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