Some Truths You Didn't Know About Coffee

Your body may love those numerous cuppas, but is it the other way round too? wake up to some truths

With coffee houses at every corner, we are all consuming increasingly more amounts of caffeine. Catching up with friends over a cup has become a part of our everyday life. Even culturally, when we visit someone, the first thing we are offered is tea or coffee. The coffee pot is also an indispensable fixture in offices. And why not? A cup or two seems to give the burst of energy sought by office workers each morning, or to gain a slight edge on a mental task late at night. However, the caffeine contained in all these drinks plays havoc with your body and mind.



WHAT IS CAFFEINE?
In its pure form, caffeine is a bitter tasting fine white powder that looks like icing sugar. It is soluble in water and so is easily absorbed into the blood stream and rapidly reaches the brain. In general, a single dose of caffeine will appear in the bloodstream within 10 minutes of consumption. It reaches a peak concentration between 30 and 60 minutes later, but absorption is much slower on a full stomach.

PSYCHOACTIVE DRUG?
Experiments that measure the electrical activity of the brain have shown that the caffeine in just one or two cups of instant coffee dramatically changes the pattern of brain activity from a typical resting state to that of an alert, very awake person. Caffeine also stimulates the adrenal glands to raise the level of stress hormones - adrenaline, non-adrenaline and cortisol. These are the ones that are released when we are anxious, scared, angry or nervous and produce the 'fight or flight' response. These hormones also energise and stimulate the brain. Hence, caffeine not only increases the body's stress levels, but also blocks the action of one of the body's de-stressing chemicals.

DURATION OF EFFECT
It takes 24 hours for one cup of coffee to pass through the kidneys and urinary tract. People who have had several cups of coffee will have lots of caffeine in their bloodstream, inhibiting sound sleep. The body must expend energy in expelling the caffeine and as it is, due to lack of sleep we have less energy, causing a terrible cycle. Caffeine will continue to affect your functioning as long as it remains in the bloodstream. Enzymes in the liver also break down the drug and remove it from the system. Some people can drink large amounts of coffee without much effect, while others feel jittery, anxious and simply cannot tolerate caffeine. Smokers experience its effects for a shorter time while women on the pill tend to react to it strongly.

ADDICTION
Caffeine is habit forming. Many people certainly depend upon it and suffer significant withdrawal symptoms (headaches, dizziness, sluggishness, fatigue, tiredness, diminished concentration, anxiety, irritability and anger) when they stop consumption abruptly. As the initial stimulating effect of caffeine wears out, the person craves for another cup to experience the same lift. People taking more than four cups a day become dependent on it. These symptoms are often relieved by rushing to another cup of coffee, which creates a vicious circle re-enforcing the addictive habit further.

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF COFFEINE

CAFFEINE DRAINS ENERGY
Caffeine may give an initial boost, but this is soon followed by a let down and you feel drained of energy. It also increases urine output, being a diuretic, and thus dehydrates.

CAUSES CALCIUM LOSS
It increases faecal and urinary calcium excretion resulting in calcium deficiency. Calcium loss is greatest when caffeine is taken with sugar.

RAISES CHOLESTEROL
Not many people know that boiled coffee contains a lipid that powerfully raises serum cholesterol. Four cups of coffee can increase cholesterol in the blood by 5 per cent and ten cups by around 12 per cent.

HINDERS ASSIMILATION OF FOOD IN THE INTESTINES
Digestive tract problems such as colitis, constipation and piles can be aggravated by caffeine.

LOSS OF VITAMIN B
These vitamins play a crucial role in energy metabolism and so with a high caffeine intake, the body loses nutrients needed to produce energy.

AFFECTS THE HEART
Caffeine causes increased and irregular heart beat, and increases blood pressure which can be dangerous for those with a coronary heart disease.

INCREASES ACIDITY
It stimulates the production of acid in the stomach, causing heart burn, indigestion and ulcers.

ALTERS SLEEP PATTERNS
Consumers are more easily aroused by sudden noises and don't feel fresh after waking up, hence they become fretful and irritable, and find it difficult to concentrate.

OTHER EFFECTS
Kidneys and liver have to overwork in the body of a caffeine victim, so these may suffer after sometime. It raises blood sugar level and can aggravate existing diabetes problems. Studies show that consuming too much caffeine may delay conception and reduce fertility. Interferes with the immune system, making you prone to colds and flu.

REPLACE YOUR CUPPA WITH
• GREEN TEA
• HERBAL OR LEMON-HONEY TEA
• PLENTY OF WATER