Coffee As An Addiction: Effects Of Caffeine

According to the American Foundation of Pediatrics’ latest report, about three-fourths of all kids, teens and young adults drink caffeine – in the form of coffee, espresso or caffeinated soft drinks.

Caffeine has stimulant properties. Caffeine can be physically addictive. This means that someone who has been drinking a lot of caffeine-containing beverages may experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop. Your body is de-sensitized to caffeine. Coffee is addictive. We know that you need more and more of it to achieve the desired effect. Caffeine can be as addictive as recreational drugs or nicotine. You need more coffee to achieve the same “high” as you do when you first start drinking it. It is not only difficult to achieve that same “high”, you also become dependent on caffeine. Stopping coffee can cause the “shakes”, as well as headaches and many other problems.

It is well known that caffeine can raise your blood-pressure. Did you realize that the increase is due to an increase of vascular pressure, and not to a higher heart rate or increased blood flow? Caffeine makes your heart pump blood harder. High blood pressure can be a risk factor for coronary diseases. Drinking caffeine drinks makes your heart work harder to pump oxygen into your blood and nutrients to your tissues. Java consumption should be reduced for people with high blood-pressure. Acid production increases, specifically hydrochloric acid and gastric acid. Both acids are essential to the digestion of food. Too much acid, however, can cause stomach problems. Acid reflux can be a problem if the acid eats into your stomach lining. Even worse is if you consume coffee in mornings when there’s no food to offset the acid. Strangely, caffeine is not to blame! According to one study, the increased acidity is likely due to the roasting process of coffee.

Although not everyone with digestive problems drinks coffee, those who have IBS, ulcerative ulcers or gastritis as well as Crohn’s can find the coffee worsens their symptoms. Coffee increases acid production in the stomach. This increases acid in your stomach weakens it, allowing bacteria to easily penetrate into stomach tissue. The effects of coffee are not limited to the stomach. IBS, or irritable bowel syndrome, is caused by coffee. This can lead to abdominal cramps and spasms as well as alternating diarrhea and constipation.

You may have experienced a stabbing or burning pain in your stomach or chest after drinking coffee. You may have acid reflux or even heartburn if you drink coffee. Caffeine relaxes esophageal lower sphincter muscle. This is the muscle that prevents stomach contents from being re-admitted into your mouth. When the lower esophageal sphincter is relaxed, food and stomach acid can come up the esophagus. This acid will burn the tissue that’s not protected.

Other drinks, such as caffeinated teas or sodas, can also trigger heartburn. Even if the pain is stabbing and burning, you may want to give your stomach a rest by cutting out caffeine for a couple of weeks. Affects the central nervous and brain. Do you know why coffee awakens us? Coffee doesn’t make you feel more energetic; it just shuts off your tired brain.

Coffee blocks the receptors that detect adenosine in the brain, a chemical that indicates fatigue. By preventing the adenosine from reaching receptors in your brain, coffee can trick your mind into believing you’re awake, focused and more alert than you actually are. You will feel alert and awake when you block the adenosine, but the caffeine will wear off. The receptors are more sensitive because they have been blocked by caffeine. Hence you experience the “coffee-crash”.

Caffeine is also harmful to your nervous system. It can cause problems such as:

Nervousness

Jitters

Anxiety

Irritability

Sleepiness

Affects nutrient absorption

Coffee’s effects on calcium are one of most notable. Coffee blocks calcium absorption, which prevents the mineral from reaching bones. Caffeine intake that is too high can cause osteoporosis and bone thinning.

It’s not uncommon to have a chocolate bar or a cup coffee. If you are looking for a boost of energy but do not want the jittery feel that caffeine can sometimes cause, there are other alternatives.

Below are some alternative ways to boost your energy without using too much coffee:

Sleep. Sleep is very important. Teenagers must sleep for 9 hours per night.

Regularly eat. You feel depleted when you aren’t eating. It can be helpful for some people to eat several smaller meals during the day rather than a few large meals.

Water is essential. Water is more than half of our body weight, so we should drink 64 ounces every day.

Walk. Move around if your energy levels are low in the afternoon.

It is also a good substitute for smoking and it has many advantages! (Reed, 2016) (Reed, 2016)

References

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Reed, K. (2016, 3 3). The 15 worst coffee side effects you need to know about. Retrieved 1 9, 2018, from positivehealthwellness: https://www. positivehealthwellness. com/diet-nutrition/the-15-terrible-coffee-side-effects-you-need-to-know-about/