I'm 36. And before this year, I had never drank coffee. Not Starbuck's. Not home-brewed. Nothing. That's weird, right? I mean, everyone I know drinks coffee. My wife lives on it. In fact, she can go weeks with little to no sleep and nutritionally sustained by coffee.
Now don't get me wrong. Of course I've tried it. I just never liked it much. But in April 2008, I started drinking vanilla lattes from the Coffee Bean. Being like most of you out there, I'm chronically sleep deprived with more responsibilities to meet than time to meet them.
So of course I was looking for an extra adrenaline kick.
For years, I've started my days about 6:00 a.m. by drinking a lot of water. Then, seemingly overnight, I added 4 cups of coffee to the routine. On top of that, I would feed my mid-morning and mid-afternoon addiction to Red Bull.
But after 6 months, I realized the energy I typically have throughout the day was gone. I had little energy - or attitude for that matter - to do anything in the evenings and I found myself wanting to stay in bed longer and longer in the mornings. Was it the coffee? Could I be over-caffeinating myself?
Of course I blamed the coffee. And I stopped drinking it. That was December.
I woke up this morning a bit groggy. So I drove through the Coffee Bean for a vanilla latte on my way to the office. And I found myself thinking, what is the sustained effect of caffeine on the body? Was caffeine really the sinister culprit of my lower energy levels during that time or was I looking for an easy excuse?
For years, I've heard some friends swear by the benefits of coffee and I've heard others shit-can it while trying to kick it. So who's right?
Here's the skinny.
- Caffeine, whether from coffee or an energy drink, does exactly what it's supposed to do. It fights fatigue, increases alertness, brightens mood, and eases pain while forestalling sleep.
- In reasonable doses, it may even be recommended. By triggering the release of adrenaline to help muscles work harder and longer, caffeine clearly enhances athletic performance. So much so that it was considered a controlled substance by the International Olympic Committee until 2004. Some findings suggest that caffeine can stave off disease. By blocking receptors for adenosine, a neurotransmitter that plays a role in motor function, caffeine may reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease. It is now being tested as a treatment for Parkinson's. Coffee also, like blueberries or broccoli, contains potent antioxidants that may reduce the risk of colon cancer, gallstones, and liver cancer, among others.
- Alas, the glorious rush of energy isn't entirely good for you. While studies have not been able to link caffeine with cardiovascular disease, it can cause anxiety, jitters, and heart palpitations. Particularly in people who are sensitive to these things. It can cause stomach pain, sleeplessness, and is recommended only in small doses for women who are pregnant.
So, was my low energy a result of adding 4 cups of coffee to my day? I think maybe. But coffee itself is not the villain I once thought it was. The key is moderation. If I'm combining several cups of coffee with daily energy drinks, that might be overkill. But choosing one or the other on any given day appears to work out just fine.
What has your experience been? I'm interested to know how your caffeine-enhanced routine has worked out for you. Let me know. I'm off for another latte.
Useful links for additional info on caffeine:
http://www.overcaffeinated.org/effects-of-caffeine-on-the-body.php
http://www.faqs.org/nutrition/Ca-De/Caffeine.html
http://www.webmd.com/balance/caffeine-myths-and-facts
http://blogs.webmd.com/sleep-disorders/2007/05/caffeine-facts.html
http://www.ico.org/caffeine.asp
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