A cup of coffee can be a great “pick-me-up” when you’re feeling tired, but there’s a sinister side to this tasty beverage. Caffeine can mess with your blood sugar, cause various hormones to be released when they’re not supposed to be, raise your heart rate, and cause burnout. Here’s how caffeine might be affecting you and what to do about it.
Caffeine Raises Blood Pressure and Heart Rate
Caffeine raises your blood pressure as well as your heart rate. Some people cannot consume caffeine because of this. Just one cup of coffee can contain between 80mg and 200 mg of caffeine, but designer coffees and organic brands may contain up to twice as much as this. Caffeine content can also be altered by roasting and brewing (extraction) method.
For example, contrary to popular belief, a light-roast coffee has more caffeine than a dark roast. The roasting reduces the caffeine content by up to 30 percent.
It Raises Blood Sugar
Diabetics soon realize that their threshold for caffeine is low. This is due to the fact that the drug raises blood sugar. Foods with caffeine include energy drinks, caffeine pills (stay-awake pills), 5-hour energy drinks, coffee, espresso, red bull, instant coffee, many teas, soda, and chocolate.
If you’re trying to cut your caffeine content, or just watch your sugar intake, here are some diabetes recipes from LifeScan Canada Ltd. to get you started. Mostly, though, your job is to stay away from caffeine, sugar, or anything that messes with your blood sugar levels.
It’s a Diuretic and Laxative
At 3 mg, there’s no effect on your system. But, at 80 to 200mg, there’s a diarrheic effect. This means that the caffeine causes you to expel more water (as urine) than you take in. This can dehydrate you very quickly. So, it’s a good idea to drink water along with coffee and not consume too much to begin with.
The caffeine can also act as a laxative. So, if you’re not used to consuming it, stay near a bathroom.
For most people, this is not a big issue. But, for heavy coffee drinkers, it can become a serious health problem. Why? Because chronic dehydration isn’t always something you feel, and chronically depletes electrolyte levels can cause numerous health problems. For example, magnesium, one of the essential electrolytes your body needs, is involves in over 300 processes in your body. A deficiency in magnesium, which can happen with dehydration, will lead to chronic illness.
It Affects Dopamine Levels While Blocking Adenosine Receptors
Caffeine works by increasing your dopamine levels (which is why you end up feeling so good after a cup of coffee), while also blocking adenosine receptors. Adenosine is a purine nucleoside, which plays an important role in the body’s ability to make energy (ATP). It also helps to promote sleep and suppresses arousal.
This is why you may initially feel a burst of energy after taking caffeine, but you will eventually crash and, if you drink too much in the evening, you won’t be able to sleep. So, chill out on the coffee, and try not to drink any after 12 noon. Ideally, you would stop with your first morning cup.
Alfred Landers is always on the lookout for ways to live healthier. When he finds them, he likes to write about them on the web. His articles appear mostly on health, wellness, living and family websites and blogs.
