Coffee! We see it in everyone’s hands everywhere. From our parents in the early morning, to some friends at school with their Dunkin Donuts, to the Kardashians having their Starbucks in one hand and their designer purse in the other. Why is there such an obsession with coffee? Does it really give you energy or does it just show your wealth, that you fit in?
Yes, we know it can lead to heart disease, but here are the benefits of caffeine. Some of the reasons why coffee is healthy for you is that it improves your brain function. It also reduces the risk of chronic diseases like Type 2 diabetes and Parkinson’s diseases, boosts physical performance and supports liver and heart health. It is also unhealthy for you due to caffeine-related side effects such as anxiety, insomnia, restlessness,and increased heart rate.
So why are people so obsessed with coffee? According to “The National Institutes of Health, “ Adults rely on caffeine because it boosts alertness, concentration and mood while also potentially providing health benefits like reducing risk of certain diseases and improving physical performance.” Adults are relying so much on coffee but they do not know what harmful activities that can happen to them if they drink coffee. They only think of the healthy parts of caffeine and not the unhealthy parts of the caffeine. So is it really worth it?
People are spending so much money on coffee at Starbucks and Dunkin but they don’t know that they are wasting their money on these drinks that aren’t even good for them. It is outrageous how much people spend on coffee in a week. They spend about $5 for a coffee a day, then it turns into $35 a week. Low and behold that $35 turns into $140 a month. Then after that $1,680 a YEAR just for a cup of COFFEE! How about you make your own?
So is sugar free coffee better than coffee with sugar? Yes, sugar free is better. Sugar free coffee is better than coffee with sugar because coffee with sugar can make you gain weight, increase blood sugar spikes, and potentially links to diabetes and heart disease. Do we really want to spend money on something that can lead to problems?
Some problems that can happen if you drink too much caffeine a day are, digestive issues, muscle breakdown, dependency, and increased urination. If you drink more than the recommended number of coffee a day, it can potentially end you up in the hospital with serious problems. The age that you would be to drink coffee at is 16 years old. If you drink coffee under that age it can cause serious health problems in children and adolescents, including anxiety, heart palpitations and sleep problems.
Even from 8am to 9pm, you always catch someone sipping their coffee. From kids coming to school with their Starbucks or Dunkin coffee thinking that they are so cool, to our parents drinking coffee like three times a day. It never ends. Maybe it’s the free coffees on our apps or the new drinks that come every season, but we are sure sucked in! Drink up; but think before you do!