Caffeine: The Good, the Bad, and the Antioxidant
of Coffee
Caffeine is a pretty common household supplement and is also a very well known stimulant. Whether you need caffeine to get you through the day or you enjoy drinking a couple of cups of coffee every once in a while, this natural stimulant is good for you in many ways. Caffeine can be used to increase energy and focus, as well as improve moods and endurance. This article will explore the good, the bad, and the antioxidant properties of caffeine.
What is Caffeine?
Caffeine is a natural plant product that comes from plants that are grown extremely close to each other. This process gives off a lot of plant hormones that we humans can use for our own purposes. Many fruits are high in caffeine, such as coffee beans, cocoa beans, and tea leaves. However, some plants don’t produce as much caffeine as others. For example, sugarcane doesn’t contain nearly as much caffeine as coffee does. Hence, why sugar isn’t commonly used instead of sugarcane for producing coffee.
The good news is that we can easily replicate the process that occurs when we cook with coffee beans. When we cook with pure coffee beans, we notice that they have a very bitter taste and can sometimes cause heartburn. However, when we add almost anything else to our coffee other than water, we can replace some bitterness with sweetness. That’s why many restaurants add sugar to their coffee; it gives it more of a taste that people like better.
The way that caffeine works in our bodies is by going to the liver and being processed into something called phosphorylated tyrosine. Phosphorylated tyrosine then goes to the adrenal gland and produces more hormones like adrenaline and glucose (sugar). The way that this affects us is that it gives us energy and keeps our blood pressure up during activity/exercise. You may have heard this referred to as “the energy drink” or “wake-up call” hormone because of how important it is for us to wake up each morning. (1)
How does Caffeine affect Performance?
Caffeine has been shown to improve work performance and focus by increasing blood flow and oxygen supply to the brain. It also blocks some chemicals that would otherwise cause drowsiness during long periods of time at the desk job. Whether you love or hate working on your computer all day, you will likely appreciate being able to work harder for longer thanks to caffeine. (2)
Do People Prefer Caffeinated Coffee?
People seem to prefer drinking caffeinated rather than decaf coffees these days. There are many reasons for this, but mainly because they haven’t experienced the typical side effects of decaf coffee consumption (such as sleepiness). Since most workplaces don’t allow drinking any kind of alcohol during lunchtime anyway, pre-gaming with a couple cups of caffeinated coffee before lunchtime may be just the thing that gets you through your afternoon productivity phase!
In conclusion, caffeine is quite an interesting substance that has many benefits to humans on a daily basis. Whether you want to enjoy a cup of Joe before bed to get stress away or you need your first cup of the morning to get your brain working right, there is surely something good about drinking a couple cups of caffeinated coffee every once in a while. The health benefits aren’t too difficult to spot either; increased energy levels, clear thinking minds, etc. are all good for your health!
As always, if you have any questions or concerns about anything mentioned here please don’t hesitate to ask! I wish you all the best on your journey towards optimal health!
References
Is coffee the number one antioxidant?
There is no one antioxidant that is better than all the others. Different antioxidants work in different ways and are found in different foods. Coffee is a good source of antioxidants, but so are many other foods.
Does coffee have the most antioxidants?
There is no definitive answer to this question as different types of coffee will have different levels of antioxidants depending on how they are brewed and what ingredients are used. However, coffee is generally considered to be a good source of antioxidants and has been shown to have some health benefits.
Is coffee the best source of antioxidants?
There is no definitive answer to this question. Coffee does contain antioxidants, but there are other foods that are also high in antioxidants. Some of these other foods include berries, dark chocolate, and kale.
Does caffeine have antioxidant properties?
There is some evidence that caffeine may have antioxidant properties. However, more research is needed to confirm this.
What has more antioxidants than coffee?
Coffee beans are roasted, which destroys some of their antioxidants. The highest antioxidant foods are raw, unprocessed fruits and vegetables.
Does coffee have more antioxidants?
There are many antioxidants present in coffee. The most studied and well known antioxidants present in coffee are chlorogenic acids. These acids are present in high levels in green coffee beans, but decrease in concentration during the roasting process.