This is a collaborative post.
Coffee is the world’s second most frequently consumed beverage, giving way only to water. Millions of people can’t imagine their morning without their cup of Joe, hoping it will help them get through the day at work or school; others simply relish the taste of the famous drink.
The popularity of coffee is reflected in coffee shops popping up like mushrooms on every corner, coming up with brand new ideas to improve your coffee experience. They order all kinds of coffee beans, mix them with a variety of surprising ingredients, buy stock-colored coffee sleeves, design their places carefully, offer different events, workshops, foods, and so on. All to reach coffee lovers and keep them as customers.
Have you ever wondered what is it about coffee that makes people so crazy about it? Is it simply about its energy-restoring properties or taste? Or maybe there’s something more to it?
Or – perhaps – you’re among those who think about the hidden effects of coffee. How does it actually affect us?
In the article below, you might find some of the answers, as we dive deep into the links between coffee consumption and mood changes.
What Is Coffee, Actually?
Coffee is a brewed drink prepared from roasted coffee beans. It is consumed worldwide in various forms, including instant coffee, but the most commonly consumed form is filtered coffee, optionally with added milk and sugar.
Coffee is also used for other purposes, including flavoring in ice cream, confectionery, cakes, waffles, cookies, biscuits, puddings, etc.
Coffee beans are obtained from the seeds of “coffee trees” which are evergreen trees of the genus Coffee. The two most commonly grown are Arabica and Robusta, but there are many species of coffee trees all over the world.
The seed of the coffee cherry contains two beans: the outer bean, which is discarded; and the inner bean (or seed), which constitutes the roasted coffee.
So, people consume the caffeinated seeds of the coffee cherry.
What Are the Benefits of Coffee?
The effects of coffee on your mood are influenced by various factors, such as the regularity of consumption, the amount of coffee you drink, your underlying conditions, medications you’re taking, and other personal characteristics.
When consumed in moderation, coffee can bring you a variety of benefits.
Coffee Can Make You Feel More Alert
Caffeine is the main active ingredient in coffee, which is a stimulant. It can make you feel more alert by increasing your heart rate and blood pressure.
It also stimulates the production of adrenaline, a hormone that makes us feel energized and increases our heart rate.
In addition, it causes the release of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that regulates the brain’s reward and pleasure centers. This is why drinking coffee can make you feel more motivated and energized to accomplish your daily tasks.
Coffee Can Boost Your Mood
Coffee can also boost your mood in a positive way. The caffeine in coffee stimulates the release of the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which can make you feel more relaxed and happy.
The caffeine in coffee also blocks the absorption of the neurotransmitter adenosine, which is responsible for feelings of drowsiness. This way, you feel more awake and energetic.
Coffee Can Help You Concentrate Better
Coffee can also help you concentrate better, by increasing your ability to focus and by stimulating the brain.
The caffeine in coffee increases the production of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, which is important for memory, learning, and concentration.
Why Can Too Much Coffee Be Dangerous?
While all this sounds wonderful, it is, unfortunately, very easy to overdo with coffee. As a result, instead of the benefits mentioned above, you will increase the risks and negative effects of caffeine on your body and mind.
Coffee Can Cause Sleeping Problems
Caffeine in coffee causes insomnia and sleep disruption, which can lead to sleeping problems and cause you to feel tired and sleepy during the day.
It will also make you more restless and unable to relax, so that even when your body tells you it’s the time for rest, you won’t be able to sleep.
Moreover, if you consume caffeine too late during the day, it can prevent you from falling asleep. So, before you go to bed, avoid drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages.
Coffee Can Affect Your Heart Rate and Blood Pressure
Caffeine in coffee can raise your heart rate and blood pressure, which can be dangerous if you already have a cardiovascular disorder.
Furthermore, caffeine in coffee can cause irregular heartbeats and increase the risk of heart disease and heart attack.
Coffee Can Make You Feel Jittery and Irritated
Excessive consumption of coffee can make you feel jittery, anxious, irritated, restless, and nervous. This is especially true if you are new to coffee or are sensitive to caffeine.
Be aware that many symptoms of caffeine withdrawal are similar to symptoms of anxiety, so it’s not easy to tell whether you’re feeling symptoms of withdrawal or symptoms of anxiety. If you do want to drink coffee, limit your intake to 1-2 cups per day.
Coffee Can Cause Nausea
Coffee can also make you feel nauseous if you consume too much of it. It will also make your stomach upset by increasing acid secretion in your stomach.
If you experience nausea after drinking coffee, limit your intake or stop drinking it altogether.
How Much Coffee Is Too Much?
Caffeine is highly addictive, so you should be careful how much coffee you consume. If you are not sure about your sensitivity to the stimulant, you can start by consuming smaller amounts and see how it affects you.
If you haven’t consumed coffee before, it is recommended to start with one cup per day to avoid unpleasant effects of caffeine on your body.
If you start experiencing some of the side effects of too much coffee, try cutting back on your consumption or even giving up coffee for a while.
Conclusion
So, are you ready to say goodbye to your favorite drink? Definitely not! Let’s take some time to find out how you can use coffee for good.
Start by drinking only one cup of coffee per day, and gradually increase the amount until you find your sweet spot – the amount of coffee that gives you the benefits without the side effects.
Secondly, try to choose a type of coffee that is milder in taste and has low caffeine content. Not all types of coffee are equal.
Thirdly, avoid adding too much sugar or cream to your coffee. Sugar causes blood sugar spikes, which are followed by blood sugar crashes, which can make you feel tired, irritable, and edgy.
