Is Drinking Caffeinated Beverages A Good Way To Stay Energized? By Brent McNutt At Isnare.com Ezine Articles

Your thoughts have been chasing each other through your mind so rapidly you’re becoming dizzy. Hands shaking and pulse racing. You can’t be sure, but you think you’ve started to visibly sweat. Why is your breathing so ragged? You need to sit down, but people are occupying every chair. How does one make a good impression on a potential employer when they look like they’re coming down from a 48-hour bender? The minute your heartbeat becomes louder than voice in your head, you think you may need to skip this interview. What you should have skipped was that 20 ounce coffee you had with breakfast.

Caffeine may not be the first think that enters your mind when you think of a drug, but it has similar effects on your body and mind. Found in coffee, sodas and teas, the drug popular to the sleeping impaired affects its drinkers in a variety of ways. By manipulating your hormonal output, caffeine can take a toll on your daily life.

A vicious cycle. Most people have their first cup of coffee to stay awake. Whether to appear bright-eyed and alert for an important interview or to pull an all-nighter for a Molecular biology exam caffeine gets its popularity from its ability to give us that special jolt. This particular burst of energy is actually the result of a sudden release of adrenaline and the reduction of adenosine, the hormone that helps the body relax. Both reactions cause a person to feel alert. However, adenosine is the same hormone that calms your body when you prepare to go to sleep for the night. So, that skinny vanilla latte you had at 10 am paves the way to a sleepless night. Tomorrow you’ll need to double up on the espresso the next morning.

A moment on the lips, forever on the..stomach? Many caffeinated beverages pack on extra calories. What’s more, caffeine increases the level of cortisol, which is referred to as the stress hormone, present in your system. Cortisol has been shown to increase fat around the mid-section. Is that morning java really worth the extra time on the elliptical.

Black coffee, blue mood. Caffeine affects dopamine levels causing a short-lived, happy feeling. Like any drug, caffeine has a withdrawal period that proves less desirable than the original euphoria. Once the caffeine wears off, the dopamine levels crash and you end up feeling lower than before. Regular coffee consumption can lead to dependence and, unfortunately, coffee rehab has yet to be pitched as an idea.

Coffee grinds are a great exfoliant and ordering a Kona body wrap at your next spa visit is a great idea. However, while a cup of coffee during your morning commute won’t give you the shakes and lead to cardiac arrest, it still might be worth reconsidering. There are better ways to energize your day. Daily exercise and adequate hydration can go a long way. Thirty minutes of daily aerobic exercise, three weekly strength training and at least 64 ounces of water a day and you’ll forget why you ever needed a caffeine boost.

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