Why Are We Addicted To Coffee?

Coffee is one addiction that many people actually brag about. Currently there are even commercials showing how one cannot function without their cup of java in the morning. There has recently been an upswing in the benefits of drinking coffee. Anti oxidants are oftentimes mentioned.

In a few studies caffeine has been found to possibly decrease the incidence of Parkinson’s disease. There is a thought that caffeine may delay the onset of diabetes though currently this is found more in the decaffeinated process.

Coffee’s commercial appeal is incredible. You hear the words “It’s good to the last drop” and know it’s a Folgers commercial. Starbucks are on every corner.

Coffee comes in many flavors from mild to bold. Coffee alone is quite bitter to the taste and most people mask the flavor with cream or sugar or even a flavored coffee. People become addicted to the caffeine in it and must have it.

Is caffeine as harmless as we are currently led to believe? Is it actually as bad for us a we now know tobacco and trans-fats are. For any of you who have chosen to go off caffeine, one quickly realizes it is a drug. One gets the shakes, headaches, withdrawal symptoms and all your brain can process is “I must have caffeine now”. Here are just a few facts to think about:

1. Caffeine is a drug.
Despite its fully legal status, caffeine is a drug that belongs to a class of stimulants. John Hopkins research has shown that as little as 100 mg of caffeine per day causes physical dependence and withdrawal upon discontinuation. These symptoms include fatigue, headache, sleepiness/drowsiness, irritability and aggression, depression and anxiety.

2. Our body functions are affected by caffeine.
Coffee will make you more alert. It will also decrease your sensitivity to insulin and make your blood sugar spike.

3. Our body’s chemicals are thrown out of kilter due to caffeine.
Coffee’s mechanism of action involves increased release of neurotransmitters, such as nor- epinephrine, dopamine and adrenaline. This can actually contribute to depression.

4. Caffeine costs us money.
The longer you take caffeine the more your body craves. Your body actually begins to revolve around the process of getting more caffeine If you imagine all of the time you spend thinking about the money you spend getting your fix you could probably by that fancy car you’ve always dreamed of having. At an average price of $3.75 a cup and you drink let’s say two cups a day 7 days a week you are spending $52.50 a week on coffee alone.

5. Caffeine disrupts our sleep patterns.
The chemicals in the caffeine alter our sleep pattern. Not getting enough sleep is one of the most common types of fatigue. To counter act this we drink our coffee in the morning thus setting up another restless night of sleep.

Love it or hate it coffee is here to stay. While drinking your next cup of coffee remember the side effects and drink in moderation.