6 reasons why we should drink less caffeine
Most of us enjoy a cup of tea or coffee to get us going in the mornings or to help us through the afternoon dip, but the shot of caffeine in that cup can affect our body in many ways.
Along with being addictive, caffeine can slow the amount of melatonin our bodies produce. Melatonin is the hormone that regulates our body clock and our sleep patterns and so caffeine can adversely affect the way we function.
Here are 6 reasons why we should be cutting back on our caffeine.
Improve our sleep
It has been shown that drinking caffeine does disturb our sleep patterns, even having a cup six hours before we go to bed may affect us.
Caffeine influences our cycles and stages of sleep, altering the time we should spend in the lighter stages of sleep. Our bodies should naturally move from deep sleep (REM) to light sleep during the night but caffeine may cause us to wake when we move through this transition.
Our circadian rhythm, or inbuilt body clock, can be altered by our caffeine consumption. Drinking just one after dinner coffee can put back our body’s production of melatonin by approximately 40 minutes. However, we all need a boost sometimes and so it is worth looking at some alternative caffeine-free pick-me-ups if you feel that you may want to drink less tea or coffee.
Feel calmer less stressed
Our body’s nervous system can be stimulated within just 15 minutes of drinking a cup of tea or coffee. This stimulated state can go on for hours.
Our catecholamines (stress hormones) are also increased by caffeine intake. This leads to our bodies releasing more insulin and cortisol. So rather than giving us the pick-me-up that we wanted, we are left feeling more stressed instead.
Our mental, along with our physical health, can be adversely affected by stress.
Fewer tummy problems
Heartburn and acid reflux can both be aggravated by the consumption of caffeine. The gallbladder and colon can also be irritated which can lead to pains in the stomach and affect bowel movements.
Reduce bladder problems
Coffee and tea irritate the bladder and so can lead to embarrassing leaks. Reducing the amount of caffeine we consume, along with other lifestyle changes, can help with incontinence.
Better teeth
Coffee and tea stain teeth and caffeinated fizzy drinks usually contain lots of sugar, so all in all the combination is particularly bad news for teeth. Drinking more water and less caffeine should help with fewer visits to the dentist!
Alcohol and caffeine – a disastrous combo
The trend of mixing energy drinks with alcohol is particularly ill-advised since the depressant effects of alcohol are masked by caffeine. Researchers have suggested that those people who consume energy drinks alongside alcohol are three times more likely to drink more.
Disclaimer
All content on Silversurfers.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated at all as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Silversurfers will not be responsible or liable for any diagnosis made by a user based on the content on www.silversurfers.com and we are also not liable for the content of any external websites or links from or to Silversurfers to any other websites. Please always consult your own doctor if you’re in any way concerned about any aspect of your health.
Melina - Assistant Editor
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