Coffee is one of the world’s most popular beverages with perhaps tea being just as popular. It is known coffee contains caffeine which stimulates the central nervous system or CNS. It also has an effect on the heart and muscles (the heart, of course, is a muscle). Coffee also consists of chlorogenic acid which may have an effect on blood vessels, metabolism and blood sugar levels.
Research does appear to indicate that the consumption of coffee can increase mental alertness even when suffering from a lack of sleep. There is also research which suggests that drinking coffee can help those suffering from some medical conditions. But, if you think that drinking a lot of coffee is healthy, you will be wrong. Generally, it is said that the maximum amount of coffee intake should not exceed four cups a day and this could be less for those with certain medical conditions. If you have any doubts, consult a medical professional first.
It also appears that there may be more to the effects of coffee than we generally accept. In 2010, a double-blind test was undertaken by two groups of individuals; coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers. They were given personality checks in order to understand their emotional state and level of alertness. First of all, both groups were told not to drink any coffee for a period of 16 hours.
The next stage in the test involved them all being given a capsule containing caffeine or a harmless placebo. Being a double-blind test, the volunteers and those conducting the test were unaware of who got what. After a time, they were given a higher dose of caffeine in a capsule or another placebo.
The results were quite interesting. They appeared to indicate that neither group showed a higher state of alertness. However, a number of the non-coffee drinkers said they now had headaches and felt more on edge. When the coffee drinkers were interviewed, those who had been given the placebo reported they also had headaches and when tested, showed a lower level of alertness.
So, what did the researchers learn from this test? Well, coffee does make you more alert. But, if you are already a coffee drinker, a lack of coffee makes you less alert. This would seem to suggest that when a coffee drinker gets up and has their first cup of coffee of the day, this is in order to lower the caffeine withdrawal symptoms that had built up over the night whilst they were asleep. It would appear that more research needs to be done.
John Pullen 