Coffee
In this article, Joshua goes over side effects of coffee drinking and caffeine addiction.
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Coffee & Caffeine addiction
Coffee & Caffeine addiction
By: Joshua Miranda
By: Joshua Miranda
Coffee is used by many as a get up and go. Many people indulge themselves with a cup per day; however, many take it further by consuming an average of three per day, as stated by the National Coffee Association. Believe it or not, high amounts of coffee consumption could have a few side effects. Looking at sites such as Alberta ,a Canadian government site dedicated to information on health, states that heavy consumption can have “long-term effects such as sleep problems, thinning of bones and fractures, more anxiety, and stomach acidity. It can also increase blood pressure, and if you already have high blood pressure, it can get worse.” Heavy consumption is counted as more than 600 mg of caffeine per day, which is usually more than about three or four per day.
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As for short-term effects, we get the commonly known, “can make you more alert, put you in a better mood, and make you feel less tired. It can also improve physical work and thinking. The effects usually start within half an hour and can last up to 12 hours,” finds Alberta Health; however, that is with less caffeine, so only about 1-2 cups of coffee. The main addictive ingredient in coffee is caffeine. Taking a look at almost any social media website, one can find posts of people going crazy before their coffee. In fact, many people often admit their fiendish attitude towards coffee in the morning.
Peeping at the Addiction Center website, caffeine has its own page dedicated to informing the public about caffeine addiction and abuse. It labels signs of addiction, and how one can abuse such a substance. Caffeine covers a broad array of drinks, from energy to the most simple of coffees and even gums. According to AddictionHelp.com, a mental health and addiction information website, “28% fulfilled the criteria for caffeine dependence compared to 50% for alcohol and 80% for nicotine.” It also states that it is hard to get a broad number of caffeine dependence in the US, but smaller studies show similar numbers.
Caffeine and coffee dependency is not always bad, though. In some cases, it can be used as a form of aid and assistance for neurodivergent disorders such as ADHD and ADD, and might be able to manage at least some of the symptoms of such disorders. Not enough is fully known to say it's a treatment for adult ADHD, according to ADDA, a heavily trusted website for disorders like ADHD and ADD. Whilst not a legitimate treatment for the condition, it has been reported to help with focus and even sleep in some cases, depending upon the person.
Coffee consumption remains something that almost everyone seems to indulge in, and that is likely to never change. However, remember to not over-consume coffee even though with, cream and sugars, it can be one of the better-tasting drinks. On that note, continue to drink what you like, and do what you enjoy.
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