As a “top celebrity,” coffee is often the subject of “hoaxes,” and many myths have even circulated about it. Let’s find out which are myths and which are facts.
Coffee Causes Addiction
FALSE. This is the biggest myth, or hoax, about coffee that’s spreading worldwide. If you’re a heavy coffee drinker and suddenly stop drinking it completely, you might initially experience mild headaches, mood swings, and difficulty focusing. Emilia Achmadi, a nutritionist from Mesa Academy, says these symptoms are nothing to worry about, as they usually subside or even disappear after a day or two, before the body’s metabolic function returns to normal. “What’s often mistaken for coffee addiction is actually the body’s tolerance to caffeine and its ability to digest it. So just enjoy your coffee…”
Caffeine Improves Exercise Performance
TRUE. Without caffeine, performance during cardio exercise will be different. Not only will physical reactions slow down, but psychological ones will also be affected. Terry Graham, Ph.D., a caffeine-specializing nutritionist from the University of Guelph in Canada, says caffeine can increase your endurance during exercise by about 10-15%, as it makes you less likely to tire. Caffeine also acts as a mild analgesic, allowing you to exercise longer without muscle soreness.
Long-Term Caffeine Consumption Is Bad
FALSE. This myth arises because a condition commonly seen in smokers is that they drink more coffee than non-smokers. Smokers tend to digest caffeine more quickly than non-smokers, leading them to consume more coffee. When smokers experience health problems, caffeine is often blamed along with nicotine. Harris Lieberman, Ph.D., a research psychologist from the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, says that long-term consumption of caffeinated beverages is not harmful to those without high blood pressure, arrhythmia, or anxiety.
Caffeine Changes Body Chemistry
TRUE. Caffeine is a natural stimulant. 250 milligrams of caffeine (about 2 cups of strong coffee) is three times the amount of adrenaline in the bloodstream, causing it to speed up breathing. In the brain, caffeine interacts with adenosine, a chemical that slows down nerve activity and signals the need for sleep. Caffeine also increases dopamine levels, making you feel happy. In short, caffeine has the ability to simultaneously focus and relax you.
Caffeine Makes Me Smarter
TRUE. It’s a great idea to sip a cup of coffee before writing that important report you’re asked to write. “Caffeine can improve cognitive function by blocking adenosine, which slows down brain activity,” says Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a food chemist at the University of Scranton. For example, in a study conducted by Dr. Lieberman, a Navy Seal who was severely sleep-deprived experienced a 60% increase in alertness, alertness, learning ability, and memory after being given the equivalent of 2 cups of coffee.
Caffeine Causes High Blood Pressure
FALSE. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that caffeine does not increase the risk of high blood pressure. In someone with normal blood pressure, the change in heart rate after drinking coffee is too small to be noticeable and will disappear within a few minutes, says Dr. Graham. However, those who already suffer from hypertension, cardiac arrhythmias, and anxiety are advised to avoid excessive coffee consumption.
Caffeine causes bone loss
FALSE. There is evidence that calcium is excreted from the body through urine, and the more urine the body produces, the less calcium it will have. However, this effect is not a cause for concern. “A coffee drinker may lose a few milligrams of calcium. So, just add milk to your coffee to compensate,” says Jim Coughlin, Ph.D., a California-based food toxicologist.
I can’t sleep if I drink coffee after dinner
FALSE. Even tea contains small amounts of caffeine (about 25 milligrams per cup of weak tea). The effect can be said to only make you relax rather than make you excited. Those who have difficulty sleeping are advised to drink caffeinated drinks about 6 hours before bed.
