Historians track the first brewed tea as far back as 2737 B.C. Coffee was reportedly discovered many years later by an Ethiopian shepherd who noticed the extra energy it gave his goats.
Caffeine is a stimulant and the most commonly used drug in the world. Every day, millions consume it to increase wakefulness, alleviate fatigue, and improve concentration and focus. Once consumed, caffeine is quickly absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream. From there, it travels to the liver and is broken down into compounds that can affect the function of various organs. That said, caffeine’s main effect is on the brain. It functions by blocking the effects of adenosine, which is a neurotransmitter that relaxes the brain and makes you feel tired. Normally, adenosine levels build up over the day, making you increasingly more tired and causing you to want to go to sleep.
Caffeine helps you stay awake by connecting to adenosine receptors in the brain without activating them. This blocks the effects of adenosine, leading to reduced tiredness. It may also increase blood adrenaline levels and increase brain activity of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine.
Amid myths and controversy about whether caffeine is good or bad for us, evidence suggests that moderate coffee consumption can bring both benefits and risks. Though, it is very important to clear the myths before having a relaxing sip of your routine jubilant drink.
Myths
A number of myths surround caffeine consumption.
- Is caffeine addictive?
In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) added caffeine withdrawal to the list of recognized conditions in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V). However, not all caffeine consumers have withdrawal symptoms if they stop consuming caffeine.
People who suddenly stop drinking coffee may experience symptomsTrusted Source about 12 to 24 hours after quitting. This peaks after 20 to 48 hours before disappearing. Gradually reducing caffeine intake over a period of days does not trigger these symptoms.
Unlike other drugs, caffeine has not been shown to activate the pathways in the brain that are related to addiction.
Therefore, caffeine is not considered an addictive substance.
- Is caffeine a diuretic?
Caffeine has been associated with increased urinary volume and frequency, causing the body to lose water and electrolytes such as potassium and sodium.
However, researchers have not found Trusted Source a significant difference in fluid loss between people who drink or do not drink coffee.
One team concluded that: “Coffee, when consumed in moderation by caffeine habituated males provides similar hydrating qualities to water.”
Additional water loss may occur if a person consumes more than 250 mg a day, but the fluid consumed with the drink is likely to make up for any loss.
- Does coffee cause osteoporosis?
Caffeine may affect the way the body absorbs calcium, and this has raised concerns that drinking coffee can lead to osteoporosis.
However, this has not been confirmed by research.
A Swedish study of data for over 60,000 women found that: “High coffee consumption was associated with a small reduction in bone density that did not translate into an increased risk of fracture.”
Women with a good intake of calcium through their diet are unlikely to be at risk of osteoporosis as a result of drinking coffee.
- Does caffeine sober you up?
People who have drunk too much alcohol often turn to coffee or an energy drink to sober them up. However, caffeine does not sober a person up or make them fit to drive. It may make them more alert, but it does not reverse the poor judgment and other effects associated with alcohol.
In fact, it could be more dangerous because, without the drowsiness, a person is more likely to believe they are sober, which could lead to hazardous activities such as driving home or consuming more alcohol.
