Most of us rely on our regular source of caffeine to get through the day. Whether you need your coffee just to get moving in the morning, or you start your day out with a soda from the vending machine, caffeine can hurt your energy levels as much as it seems to help.
Why We Drink It
Caffeine has been shown to temporarily improve memory and mental functioning, and decrease fatigue. But it’s also been shown to increase blood pressure, and soda has been shown to lower bone density. Caffeine is also addictive, causing dependence and withdrawal. If you’ve ever forgotten to have your morning cup of coffee, you probably remember the searing headache you got an hour later. Caffeine wakes us up, gets us ready for the day, and is for many people part of a daily ritual.
Not All Caffeine Is Equal
Everyone gets their caffeine differently. While most people go for coffee, many others choose sodas or energy drinks. Caffeine use among young people is on the rise, usually in the form of energy drinks and soda.
Coffee
Coffee has been shown to have some positive heath effects when consumed in moderation. But it can also be a source of excess caffeine, sugar and fat. If you have one or two cups of black coffee a day, you’d probably never have a problem. Consider if you indulge in a mocha or latte each morning. The addition of the milk, sugar from flavorings and fat from the whipped cream (who gets a mocha without whipped cream, really) can add up quickly.
Soda
Again, a soda every now and then isn’t such a bad thing. But more than one a day puts so much sugar into your body and can cause it’s own sort of withdrawal. Your body comes to expect the extra dosage of sugars and caffeine, and then relies on them. Even diet sodas offer up a large number of sugar, calories and carbohydrates.
Energy Drinks
Energy Drinks and becoming more and more popular, especially among school aged kids. Some energy drinks offer more caffeine than a couple of shots of espresso, and kids gulp this down. There has actually been an increase in the amount of caffeine overdoses, resulting in tremors, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and palpitations.
All these beverages provide a quick energy fix, but as they wear off we have to drink more and more to maintain our energy levels. In smaller doses, caffeine is fine to include in your daily routine. Avoid getting caught up in the dependency cycle.
Next week we’ll discuss: Step 6 – Keep Your Work Area Clean
Increase your focus safely and naturally.
