Debunking 7 Common Misconceptions About Caffeine
A cup of freshly brewed coffee or English Breakfast tea is a staple morning ritual for many of us. But how often do we ask ourselves: is it even that good for our health? There are a lot of myths going viral about the negative impact of caffeine on our body. Here are 7 misjudgments about caffeine that you should know about.
1. Caffeine is Addictive
It’s called habituation, not addiction, and caffeine is not so much a drug but a stimulant. Caffeine does not in any shape or form affect your physical or mental health the same way drugs do. If you decide to give up caffeine, your body will not even feel the difference. In case you think you are more sleepy than usual or you are experiencing headaches and mood swings – it’s most likely a negative psychological response to the full rejection of a drink you used to enjoy.
2. It Causes Insomnia
Consuming a cup or two before 4 pm will not interfere with your sleeping pattern. Caffeine is actively excreted within 8 to 10 hours after making its way through your digestive system and whatever percentage is left is too little to be able to interrupt your sleep. As far as late night coffee is concerned, it really depends on the dosage of caffeine as well as your metabolism and blood pressure. Plus if you drink a cup of earl grey tea after dinner chances are you are going to sleep tight like a baby.
3. It Lashes the Body’s Calcium
Why is it so bad, you may ask? It is believed to prompt osteoporosis – a medical condition associated with the loss of tissue that makes your bones fragile, but this is only partly true. Daily consumption of more than 700 grams of caffeine (11 espresso shots) can aggravate the absorption of calcium in the small intestine. Besides, adding 1 or 2 tbs of milk to your coffee reduces the negative impact of caffeine.
4. It Can Sober You Up
If your breath reeks of booze from last night, caffeine does indeed help mask the smell. But when it comes to sobering up, coffee is the wrong choice since it can be quite harmful. Caffeine is an effective stimulant and will give you enough energy to lure you into a false sense of self-control and sanity. In reality, your self-awareness, attentiveness, coordination and concentration abilities, remain the same as when you were fully inebriated.
5. It Has No Benefits
Some scientists agree that limited consumption of caffeine can increase your life expectancy. This doesn’t mean you have to force yourself to drink coffee if it is not your cup of tea. There are plenty of other things you can do to live longer! But there are no reasons to break the habit of treating yourself to a big cup of Americano with some milk to get the day started.
6. It Causes Cancer
This myth is a straight up lie. Multiple studies have proved that caffeine intake is not responsible for the development of cancer cells. On the contrary, there is a strong reason to believe that caffeine can even eliminate risk factors for cancer.
7. It Is Only Found in Coffee or Tea
The stimulant can be found in many other foods and beverages. Some have a higher dosage of caffeine, while others are less caffeinated. Here is a list of a few products:
- energy drinks
- brown soda
- chocolate (except for white)
- decaf coffee
- cacao drink
- certain medications
