It is excellent in giving us the energy to get on with our daily lives. It is no surprise why coffee is the most consumed beverage not just in the US, but all over the world.
One article from New York Times outlined the compelling evidence linking increased longevity and decreased health risks to coffee consumption. The research points to a cup of coffee as a drink that’s rich in antioxidants. Coffee has been proven to help in warding off cancer, heart conditions, and Alzheimer’s disease.
On the other hand, the Advisory Committee of Dietary Guidelines noted that coffee induces a few health risks. These health risks, according to the nutrition advisory panel, are associated with moderate consumption of coffee.
This is good news for coffee lovers because the panel encourages everyone to boost their coffee consumption up to five cups daily. The panel cited consistent evidence on coffee’s health benefits, but people still think drinking five cups of caffeine each day is excessive. An 8-ounce cup of coffee contains 100 milligrams of caffeine. A small cup from a local coffee shop (12 ounces) contains caffeine of 150 milligrams. The recommended daily consumption of caffeine is only 400 milligrams, which means one should only drink a maximum of three or four cups a day.
In an office setting, a small cup will quickly make a difference. The links between productivity and coffee are strong. According to an employee survey conducted by CareerBuilder, half of the workforce of the country agrees to this. As a matter of fact, 51% of the workforce population noted that they are not as productive without coffee. The key to drinking coffee is to not overdo it. If you’re debating whether to have another cup of coffee for a quick energy boost, check in with yourself to see how you’re doing physically. If your heart rate is normal and your hands aren’t shaking, then you can probably go ahead and have that extra cup.
Staying Alert with Coffee
Caffeine does not wake you up. Instead, it halts a compound responsible for making you sleepy from acting on your brain. This compound called adenosine builds up as you go through the day and it lowers your body’s energy levels. This occurrence fosters sleepiness.
When you get up in the morning, there’s a chance that you are still tired since adenosine may still be in your system. After you drink your first cup of coffee, caffeine blocks the adenosine receptors of your brain. Now that the receptors are blocked, your brain will no longer think that it is sleepy.
Meanwhile, caffeine can also ramp up your energy levels. This is great news since more energy equates to an enhanced memory, problem-solving ability, general cognitive function, and ability to focus.
So, when you need a boost in order to concentrate better at work, sip on a cup of coffee to heighten up your focus. Your brain will surely snap to attention and help you blow through the tasks that you have to accomplish for the day.
