Learning More About Coffee’s Flip Side
As a huge coffee fan I have been delighted with recent research about coffee’s ability to help fight heart disease, cancer and deadly melanoma skin cancer. There is certain to be more research to follow on these reports. But some new reports in Forbes Magazine have also shown a flip side of coffee’s effects.
Questions about coffee’s effect on our brain and emotional reactions have surfaced.These will also probably trigger more research and questions.
This research says the alert feeling that we get with a first cup of coffee is really part of a seesaw withdrawal effect that we are experiencing, as we use fresh coffee to bring us back to a normal alertness. We should all probably compare this with how coffee seems to work for us.
These researchers also warn us that ongoing coffee drinking can trigger the familiar “fight or flight” response. When your life is in danger this can work, but it is not nearly so desirable when you react quickly with a terse reply to a co-worker’s irritating email.
I have seen this in co-workers who react quickly and not always in the best way as the day wears on and their coffee consumption continues.
I have also read other research about people who drink four or more cups of coffee a day, and use caffeine to maintain long hours.
Researchers have said those individuals may be impacting their health with loss of sleep and repeated use of caffeine to prop up their 24-7 schedules. In some studies questions have been raised about the effect on length of life when coffee is overused. Those researchers did add though that the other factors in the lives of these people could be involved in the longevity.
We might all need to seriously consider where we stand on coffee
Your viewpoint and your consumption might change as you take a closer look at the reactions you get. If your workday alertness and interactions with co-workers seem to be affected, you might want to do a running check on you coffee consumption. The best course is to keep reading and to monitor our own reactions. I think coffee can still be a valuable choice, but moderation might be the key word as we learn more about possible ongoing effects.
As always if you are having problems with caffeine, work impact, or sleeping, see your doctor first to pinpoint what is going on.
Used under Creative Commons Licensing courtesy of Lindsay Attaway