Why do people drink coffee?
This article looks into the reasons why coffee has become one of the most preferred drinks in many countries. There are some advantages to coffee consumption.
- Coffee increases energy.
Caffeine is a chemical found in coffee that either makes us feel less tired or gives us more energy when we don’t eat it. The chemical that activates our brain’s central nervous system is caffeine (Link, 2022).
Allow me to illustrate one of caffeine’s benefits. This study examined the variation in the amount of time it takes us to exhaust ourselves during bike activity before and after consuming coffee. According to research findings, coffee consumption lengthens the time it takes us to become exhausted by 12% and significantly reduces our feelings of fatigue (Link, 2022).
- It can slow the aging process of the brain.
Numerous studies have examined the impact of caffeine consumption on the brain’s aging process, although their findings have been inconsistent. Coffee may, however, help shield our brains from some neurodegenerative illnesses, according to some research.
Thirteen distinct studies examining the relationship between caffeine and the aging process of the brain revealed that the risk of Parkinson’s disease was lower in those who frequently consumed caffeine than in those who did not. Additionally, over time, consuming caffeine lowers the chance of developing Parkinson’s disease (Link, 2022).
Additionally, caffeine has been linked to reducing cognitive deterioration in people who drink coffee in moderation. Numerous studies have demonstrated the risk of dementia (Link, 2022). Now, you may be wondering: whence did coffee production and consumption begin?
The history of coffee
The Ethiopian plateau’s native nation, known as “Kefa,” is the source of the coffee species. However, it’s unclear exactly where coffee plants originated or how long they’ve been around (Myhrvold, 2023).
Whatever the true beginnings of coffee’s history, one thing is certain: Arabia was a very big coffee market. However, some Islamic authorities claim that because coffee is toxic, the Quran forbids its consumption. Strangely, a lot of Muslims find coffee—which is prohibited from being consumed in cans—to be fascinating. The fact that drinking coffee carries a severe penalty circulated among many people, leading to the establishment of coffee shops (Myhrvold, 2023).
Turkey has a particularly strong coffee culture, and ground coffee has increasingly become more widely available. Coffee is thought to have been introduced to one of the European countries in the 16th and 17th centuries; it may have been launched by a merchant from Benicia. Coffee has been assessed and used in a wide variety of ways; in fact, it has been approved in the past for its use as a political, religious, and medicinal poison.
There were others who were afraid of coffee because it had a remarkable and thought-provoking impact on the century. Thus, some urged that Pope Clement VIII outlaw this beverage based on historical facts. But the coffee was blessed by the Pope, who had tasted it. The popularity of coffee grew quickly throughout Europe, and by the end of the 17th century, it had become a widely consumed beverage (Myhrvold, 2023).
Many types of beans can be used to make coffee, but two varieties in particular have gained a lot of popularity.
1. Arabica coffee
Five countries—Colombia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Quartemilla, and India—harvest Arabica coffee. Arabica coffee, which occupies ¾ of coffee production, is mainly used as the roast of specialty coffee brands.
However, Arabica production’s cost is higher than that of other versions. Arabica coffee plants grow at very high elevations that start at 2000 feet and are very vulnerable to pest infestation (Coffee, 2022).
2. Robusta beans
Vietnam and Brazil are the primary producers of robusta beans, which are produced in the coffee canephore plant. Robusta is produced at a significantly lower rate than Arabica, despite the fact that Arabica is preferred by most people worldwide for making coffee. Robusta is highly resistant to illness. Robusta grows in low-lying valleys and rainforests, where it is simpler to harvest than arabica, but it is still difficult to grow.
Finding high-quality Robusta coffee could be challenging, despite the fact that it is simpler to harvest than Arabica coffee. Robusta plants are slightly simpler to grow on the surface, but they require difficult growing conditions—they prefer temperatures between 75 and 80 degrees.
If you don’t have these conditions, the taste can give you more than just natural bitterness. So, people who don’t like bitter coffee should choose Arabica beans instead of Robusta (Coffee, 2022).
How does caffeine keep our brains alert and awake?
Even when we ingest it, caffeine does not stay in our bodies indefinitely. However, coffee might impact when you sleep, so you may need to be more mindful of when you eat and when you sleep. Both the quantity and quality of sleep may decline. Thus, it is crucial that we consume caffeine. According to Dr. Ramkisun, he was skilled at determining when caffeine was necessary. The FDA states that the impact starts to wear off after four to eight hours. This indicates that after we eat it, the caffeine progressively diminishes. It also implies that caffeine stays in our bodies for an additional seven hours after we consume it for four to six hours. Additionally, it implies that coffee may interfere with our ability to sleep if we consume it closer to bedtime (McCallum, 2021).
The advantages of coffee
Coffee plays a significant role in our lives nowadays. We always have coffee with us when we go somewhere.
These days, it’s impossible for us to imagine living without coffee; it’s essential to our civilization. Because it makes us feel more at ease and attentive, coffee is an essential beverage. But is coffee truly beneficial to health, just because we assume it is?
This is a question we can answer. Our bodies don’t react negatively to coffee. It might benefit our bodies in some way.
Coffee has been shown to benefit women with heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and other illnesses. When considering coffee, what term immediately comes to mind? Coffee’s most well-known term may be “caffeine.” According to Johns Hopkins Medical University nutrition experts, caffeine not only prevents cardiovascular ailments but also acts as an antioxidant to shield the body from other illnesses.
For instance, the benefits of antioxidants may result in a decline in the incidence of colorectal cancer. A total of 23 women will develop colorectal cancer. Nonetheless, studies have indicated that individuals who regularly drink coffee (caffeinated) have a 26% decreased risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to those who drink decaffeinated coffee.
It has been discovered that coffee drinking has a comparable protective effect against cerebral infarction. One woman’s death has been linked to a lower risk of cerebral infarction in the case of coffee consumption once a day (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 2019).
Coffee increases our anxiety.
When we consume caffeine-containing foods or beverages, our heart rate increases and our breath count increases, causing alertness and higher body temperatures. These are natural effects that occur when consuming caffeine. Through these effects, many senses are stimulated.
Given that coffee can interfere with our sleep, it stands to reason that it also exacerbates anxiety. Lack of sleep can make people more sensitive, and caffeine’s nervous system effects—such as disrupting sleep—are comparable to those of frightening experiences. According to Mukherjee (2022), caffeine exacerbates anxiety by inciting us to react with “avoidance or fight.” For these reasons, the study found that caffeine may exacerbate anxiety and lead to aggressive conduct.
Mukherjee, S. (2022). The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Drinking Coffee | SocialDhara. [online] Available at: https://socialdhara.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-drinking-coffee/.
John Hopkins Medicine (2019). 9 Reasons Why (the Right Amount of) Coffee Is Good for You. [online] John Hopkins Medicine. Available at: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/9-reasons-why-the-right-amount-of-coffee-is-good-for-you [Accessed 23 December. 2023].
McCallum, K. (2021). Caffeine & Sleep: How Long Does Caffeine Keep You Awake? [online] www.houstonmethodist.org. Available at: https://www.houstonmethodist.org/blog/articles/2021/oct/caffeine-sleep-how-long-does-caffeine-keep-you-awake/ [Accessed 23 December. 2023].
Coffee, G.R. (2022). Where Do Coffee Beans Come From? Now & Originally. [online] Golden Ratio Coffee. Available at: https://drinkgoldenratio.com/a/blog/where-does-coffee-come-from#:~:text=Drink%20better%20coffee.- [Accessed 23 December. 2023].
Myhrvold, N. (2023). history of coffee | Origin, Discovery, & Facts. [online] Encyclopedia Britannica. Available at: https://www.britannica.com/topic/history-of-coffee [Accessed 23 December. 2023].
Link, R. (2022). 9 Health Benefits of Coffee, Based on Science. [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/top-evidence-based-health-benefits-of-coffee#1.-Boosts-energy-levels [Accessed 23 December. 2023].
