Negative Effects of Caffeine on Brain
It’s a well-known fact that caffeine is one of the most widely consumed central-nervous-system stimulants. The majority of people living in different parts of the world don’t imagine their life without a cup of coffee in the morning. Even those who don’t drink espresso or cappuccino for breakfast still consume caffeine. How? Actually, both green and black tea contain high doses of caffeine.
Unfortunately, alongside brain stimulation, caffeine carries some negative effects on our bodies. Let’s discuss them below!
Negative effects of caffeine
Anxiety
As you might have noticed, caffeine increases alertness. This substance blocks the effects of adenosine and triggers the release of adrenaline. As a result, the “fight-or-flight” reaction gets activated. In its turn, it can lead to anxiety and nervousness. By the way, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) published by APA even lists a caffeine-induced anxiety disorder as one of the mental health syndromes.
Insomnia
Caffeine is praised for helping people stay awake. But at the same time, this substance also makes it impossible to get sufficient restorative sleep. Multiple studies show that caffeine intake increases the amount of time needed to fall asleep. What’s more, it decreases total sleeping time, which is extremely harmful to the overall health.
Addiction
Regular consumption of caffeine forms bad habits. It affects the brain in a way that leads to addiction. Scientists say that caffeine triggers some brain chemicals similar to the ways amphetamines and cocaine do. Of course, caffeine doesn’t cause addiction of the same severity but it still leads to psychological and physical dependency. Caffeine cravings are a typical side-effect of regular coffee consumption.
Fatigue
If caffeinated beverages are known for boosting energy levels, how can they lead to fatigue? Research shows that caffeine has the opposite effect. A number of experiments proved that coffee and tea increases alertness and improve mood only for several hours. And after that, people often feel more tired than usual. Of course, if you keep consuming caffeine throughout the day, you can avoid the rebound effect. But it will negatively affect your ability to sleep.
The impact of caffeine side-effects on life
Anxiety, insomnia, dependency, and fatigue may destroy some aspects of your life. While experiencing all that, it’s impossible to work and study productively. Caffeine addicts find it extremely hard to focus on their duties. That’s why they need help. For example, if you are a student and you feel you can’t even write a paper, then it’s time for finding a personal statement writer online or an essay expert who will complete your work. Luckily, there are a lot of web services that can help you with any type of school assignment.
In case you have your own business and it has become too challenging to run it, you should find an assistant who will ensure that all the processes go smoothly. There is nothing wrong with delegating part of your work when you feel that you are not in the right condition to work. There are also many websites where you can find a person that will assist you with anything.
How to reduce caffeine consumption
If you want to take care of your health, you should stop consuming caffeine. Below are some of the ways to do it.
First of all, you should know the ingredients of all the products you consume. Believe it or not, caffeine is added to most energy drinks and sodas. So study the ingredients on all foods and drinks you buy and watch out for caffeine. Of course, it may be a problem to stop buying your favorite products but you should try something new. For example, you may change from coffee in the morning to herbal tea.
It would be better to decrease caffeine consumption gradually instead of giving it up in one day. You can make a plan for your caffeine withdrawal. Caffeine is so addictive that cutting down on it requires some stages. Try to drink less coffee each day to make the whole process less painful for yourself. The gradual reduction will lessen caffeine withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, headaches, and nausea.
One of the best tricks to stop consuming caffeine is switching to decaf coffee. It has almost the same taste as regular coffee, so you won’t feel the difference. With decaf coffee you will still enjoy your favorite drink in the morning, but without any side effects.
Final thoughts
Undoubtedly, coffee and tea are incredibly healthy beverages if consumed in small doses. The caffeine contained in them may boost your mental and physical performance. However, excessive amounts of coffee and tea have dangerous side effects listed in this article. Hopefully, it helped you realize why it’s important to be careful with caffeine. Follow the tips for caffeine-free life to stay healthy!
About the Author
Twigs cafe staff is comprised of editors, writers, food & drink experts, nutritionists, and researchers to create informative and helpful content for health-conscious people.
