Wellness – Caffeine

Transcript

Coffee and other caffeinated beverages may have short and long-term benefits. Some studies even show that it may lengthen your life. Worldwide, over 2 billion cups of coffee are consumed every day. And caffeine is the most consumed stimulant in the world. Many drink coffee to increase mental alertness for both cognitive and athletic performance, which have been documented in many short-term studies. Long-term studies have found that increased coffee consumption leads to a reduced risk for type 2 diabetes, as well as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Coffee may lead to some short-term side effects though, such as anxiety, headaches, difficulty sleeping, and has been known to precipitate arrhythmias. Caffeine withdrawal can also occur, where a longtime coffee drinker stops drinking and might feel symptoms like decreased alertness and irritability. So despite the risk of mild adverse effects, coffee can be both a cognitive and physical performance enhancer and potentially have long-term health benefits.