For many people, coffee is an essential part of their morning ritual. For some, it’s about the routine of waking up, making a fresh pot and enjoying it as you prepare to get your day started. For others, however, it’s got more to do with caffeine and enjoying the kick your coffee will give you.
Just like anything else, however, coffee needs to be consumed in moderation, and the best thing you can do is be weary of the facts and things and we believe about coffee.
Here are some myths about coffee explained.
Caffeine is Addictive
This one all comes down to what is meant by “addictive”. The most common understanding of addiction is associated with hard drugs and alcohol, and a caffeine “addiction” simply isn’t the same.
Caffeine is a stimulant that affects your central nervous system and if you drink a lot of it, it can result in a mild form of physical dependence.
Unlike drug or alcohol addictions, a caffeine addiction won’t threaten your social, economic or physical health in a serious way. Withdrawal could make you temporarily ill or negatively affect your sleep for a few days, but it won’t compromise your health.
Caffeine Causes Insomnia
Many people believe that drinking coffee in general will affect your sleeping patterns. Now, as we’ve discussed, coffee is a stimulant, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to affect you all the time.
There are several factors at play here. First, it’s about when you’ve had coffee. If you drink it in the morning, you should be fine by the time you go to sleep – coffee won’t stay in your system for more than a maximum of six hours.
The effect that caffeine has on your sleeping patterns also depends on your metabolism – some people’s bodies simply process it quicker than others. It may keep you up all night, while your friend can enjoy a cup while playing at online gambling sites in New Zealand and fall asleep 5 minutes thereafter.
Caffeine Can Cause Osteoporosis, Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer
Firstly, studies have shown that consuming coffee in moderation isn’t harmful. Some people may be more sensitive to caffeine, but this still doesn’t mean that coffee can cause the above health issues. These myths come from mild affects that large quantities of coffee can have. For instance, drinking coffee excessively can:
- Increase your calcium and magnesium loss in urine, but not nearly enough to cause osteoporosis.
- Temporarily raise your heart rate, but it won’t cause high cholesterol, irregular heartbeats or other cardiovascular diseases. If you’re sensitive to caffeine and already suffer from one of these issues, caffeine may slightly exacerbate things, but it won’t cause them.
- There simply is no negative link between coffee and cancer – this is a complete myth.
If you feel that you’re sensitive to coffee, have underlying health issues or it affects your sleep, then decrease your caffeine intake and speak to your doctor.
However, the above beliefs as they stand are myths, so make sure you understand how caffeine works and don’t believe everything you hear.