Caffeine: Good for you, or not?

Thanks, Corey for your question about caffeine. With our busy lifestyles we run out of steam fast and it's so easy to pick up an energy drink or shot of caffeine near the door at any store. But is it as good for us as marketing claims?

Here's what Marks Daily Apple has to say about caffeine:

As a stimulant, caffeine offers the temporary benefits of improved concentration, enhanced memory and an extra bit of energy. However, this “heightened” state has some unappealing physical effects as well. Obviously, there are the proverbial caffeine jitters and, for a few people who are either caffeine sensitive or who regularly overindulgence, even heart flutterings. But there’s more. Recent caffeine consumption can reduce blood flow to the heart during exercise.

And, apparently, some of us are “slow caffeine metabolizers” (who knew?). Being part of this crowd and partaking of caffeine, some research shows, puts us at increased risk for non-fatal heart attacks. Caffeine has been shown to also raise blood sugar levels in those with type 2 diabetes.

Additionally, caffeine induces heartburn in many people. Given that prescriptions targeting acid reflux are so common these days, we often wonder how much caffeine plays into many people’s symptoms. At a certain point for certain people, caffeine probably isn’t worth it just from that standpoint alone.

For some of us, in the end, a small amount of caffeine can be a true (and, arguably, truly needed) leg up. It's a compromise we make in the context of our real, harried modern lives: global business trips with inevitable jet lag, heavy workloads with last minute deadlines, teething toddlers we're up with half the night, etc. We make a commitment to truly take care of ourselves day to day, but the caffeine option is there to help get us over the hump. It's a moderate dose of concession int he midst of a busy and otherwise healthy lifestyle.

http://www.marksdailyapple.com/coffee-tea-caffeine-talk

There has also been speculation that high caffeine consumption may be linked to some types of cancer. Here is a good article from the Mayo Clinic on that topic, as well as other benefits.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/coffee-and-health/AN01354

Posted by: Michele Deaton

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