Hidden Truths About the Cup of Coffee you drink

Coffee, a ubiquitous name that rolls off the tongues of countless individuals, stands as one of the most universally consumed beverages. While many of us indulge in it to kickstart our day, swayed by the persuasive marketing campaigns of multinational corporations, there remains a trove of lesser-known facts about this beloved brew. In this post, I'll delve into some intriguing aspects of coffee that often fly under the radar. So, grab your cup of joe and join me on this latte-fueled exploration.

Let me start with something I experience whenever I take coffee, and that's a sudden urge to use the toilet. Yes, this happens to a lot of people and the reality of this is that coffee affect the Gastrointestinal system differently, causing constipation as opposed to diarrhea. Actually, a lot of people blame caffeine for this mishap but that is not true because because a study showed that decaffeinated coffee also have the effect on the gut (colonic motility). So when we take coffee, the hormone named Gastrin causes gastric motility and the release of gastric acid when adding digestion.

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One well-known effect of coffee is its ability to disrupt our sleep patterns. During the day, our bodies produce adenosine, a molecule that binds to adenosine receptors, inducing a sense of sleepiness. This sleepiness gradually builds up as we stay awake longer. However, when coffee enters the picture, its caffeine content starts blocking these receptors, leading to difficulties in falling asleep. This can disrupt our circadian rhythm, affecting the production of melatonin, the hormone responsible for regulating sleep. While caffeine keeps us awake, it can also lead to restlessness and jitters by stimulating the sympathetic nervous system, potentially increasing the risk of anxiety and panic attacks.

Ever wondered why your hands feel cold after drinking coffee? The culprit lies in the adrenal glands, situated above the kidneys. These glands secrete adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline, in particular, constricts blood vessels that aren't crucial for immediate survival. Consequently, when you consume coffee, the constriction of these vessels can lead to a decrease in blood flow to areas like your fingers and toes, resulting in that chilly sensation. Additionally, the increase in adrenaline is responsible for the heightened heart rate that often accompanies coffee consumption. Interestingly, while long-term coffee consumption doesn't typically lead to hypertension, regular coffee drinkers tend to build a tolerance to these effects over time.

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Coffee can impact weight as black coffee is almost calorie free which boost the metabolism of the body, but also it decreases ghrelin which is responsible for hunger in the body. Also Decaf coffee has been shown to decrease the hormone Peptide YY which is responsible for making us full.

If you are about to do something stressful or requires focus, caffeine has been tested to be able to improve focus, endurance, strength, and speed. Studies have shown that caffeine can boost cognitive and physical performance in moderate amount when taking before the event or activity.

The debate over whether coffee is a dehydrating beverage continues to rage on, but from both a personal perspective and scientific research, coffee can be considered a mild diuretic. It can lead to increased urination and fluid excretion. However, if you balance your coffee consumption with an adequate intake of water and refrain from excessive caffeine intake, such as downing espresso shots, you can prevent dehydration.

Finally let me say that coffee would always mess with medications. It usually interact with medicine by preventing absorption of the medication, destruction of the metabolism of the medication via enzymes, and the disruption in the excretion of the drug.

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Reference

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