Introduction
Today, people drinking coffee are a common sight everywhere. Also, it is not difficult to find a cafe on the street because, in highly populated areas, there are even several cafes on one block. But why do people drink so much coffee? Is it okay for our health?
The reasons why people drink coffee
- Boosting vitality
People are likely to drink coffee because they can increase their energy by consuming caffeine.
Caffeine, a substance that coffee contains, prevents adenosine (a neurotransmitter) from making people sleepy. It also makes people feel good and helps them concentrate better.
- Health Benefits
Also, because of the caffeine content, drinking coffee can benefit your health a lot. Many studies have found that caffeine lowers the incidence of various brain diseases, such as improving a person’s long-term memory and preventing neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimers, Parkinson’s disease, etc.).
However, coffee does not only have a good effect on brain health. Several studies have also found that drinking coffee regularly improves colon health and lowers the risk of cirrhosis. Lowering the incidence of several types of cancer, including prostate cancer, some cancers in the neck and head, and so on, is also an advantage of coffee that is not well known to people.
- Addiction
Caffeine is a psychoactive substance that can change the function of the brain. People who drink more than four cups of coffee a day on average are likely to become addicted to caffeine.
Compared to drugs such as cocaine and nicotine, caffeine addiction is not serious, but it is also bad for the body.
- Psychological reasons
Some people psychologically rely on coffee because it is part of their daily routine. They meet family and friends at cafes and gather around coffee machines with their colleagues at work. For this reason, coffee connects people with people who are important to them, which potentially makes coffee a social dependency.
- Part of the culture
Coffee goes beyond people’s daily lives and has its own slot. In Italy, drinking espresso after dinner is part of the culture, and some Italians think that skipping coffee is the same as not dressing before going out (Spritzler, 2017).
Side Effects of caffeine
- Anxiety
People can raise their alertness by consuming caffeine.
The adenosine effect, a brain chemical that makes people tired, can be blocked by caffeine. Simultaneously, it helps us release adrenaline, which increases people’s energy, quickly from our bodies.
However, if a large dose is taken, this effect can occur excessively, leading to tension and anxiety.
If you realize that you feel nervous, it may be a great way to reduce your caffeine intake.
- Insomnia
One of the effective functions of caffeine is to reduce people’s sleep. However, excessive caffeine intake prevents them from getting enough sleep.
- Defective digestion
Drinking coffee can cause diarrhea because it promotes the secretion of gastrin, a hormone in the large intestine.
However, caffeine itself also looks to encourage bowel movements by activating peristalsis, a process that helps move food through the digestive tract.
Considering these effects, it is no wonder that large amounts of caffeine can cause diarrhea (Brennan, 2021).
How do people reduce their caffeine intake?
Slowly remove caffeine.
For example, set a caffeine intake timer. Set the alarm to 2 p.m. and end the day’s caffeine intake when the alarm rings. Also, if you drink a light roast, try a dark roast with less caffeine. And of course, drink coffee that doesn’t contain all the caffeine. Start by drinking coffee that doesn’t contain caffeine and cutting your caffeine consumption in half at the same time.
Start with a long weekend or vacation.
During this period, you don’t have to spend a lot of time performing your work, so it’s the most appropriate time to reduce caffeine. Also, you don’t have to wake up early, and what people do most of the time during this period doesn’t require much energy or concentration. Ultimately, if you let the body rest first and then start working, it will feel less difficult to adapt to abstinence.
Find a replacement.
Decide what kind of caffeine-free drink to drink instead of coffee. And drink this kind of delicious drink instead of coffee when you want to drink coffee.
Make a list of motivations.
Examples of this include saving more money, improving the quality of sleep, etc. Always remember that behavior can be changed with the support of motivators. If you draw up this motivational list, you will get positive reinforcement (Horstman, 2021).
Conclusion
People drink coffee for various reasons, such as energy promotion, habits, culture, etc. Of course, there are benefits to coffee, such as a drop in the incidence of cancer, but if people consume it excessively, they can develop caffeine addiction, which causes various side effects. Therefore, people should keep their coffee levels at an appropriate level and take care not to consume excessively.
References
Brennan, S. (2021). Why Do People Drink Coffee? Top 6 Reasons! [online] Coffee Affection. Available at: https://coffeeaffection.com/why-do-people-drink-coffee/ [Accessed 25 May 2023].
Horstman, E. (2021). Addicted to Coffee? Same. A Nutritionist Shares Simple Tips to Quit Caffeine (and Stay Sane!). [online] Camille Styles. Available at: https://camillestyles.com/wellness/how-to-quit-caffeine/ [Accessed 25 May 2023].
Spritzler, F. (2017). 9 Side Effects of Too Much Caffeine. [online] Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/caffeine-side-effects#TOC_TITLE_HDR_6 [Accessed 25 May 2023].
