How many cups of coffee do you drink a day? I drink at least two; I am convinced I am addicted at this point. If 11 o’clock rolls around and I still haven’t had a cup of coffee, a headache sets in. I am almost positive that is a withdrawal symptom, haha. Has this ever happened to you? What is it about coffee that gives us a reason to feel so addicted?
Spilling the beans about coffee.
Caffeine and sugar are probably the two most commonly tolerated drugs in our society. They are indeed similar to drugs with addictive properties, so much so that you can have withdrawals when you abruptly stop if you consume regularly. Withdrawal symptoms can include headaches, fatigue, depressed mood, brain fog, difficulty concentrating, irritability, muscle pain, and stiffness.
Caffeine consumption can also have positive effects. Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman states it is best to delay caffeine consumption by 90-120 minutes after waking. This can enhance its effectiveness. It is also beneficial to take breaks from caffeine consumption at times to decrease dependence. Interestingly enough, Huberman also states, ” Moreover, caffeine can have neuroprotective effects due to its impact on neuromodulators like dopamine, and large scale analyses show that caffeine intake is inversely related to depression, suggesting it may have antidepressive effects. These effects could be both direct and indirect, as caffeine increases motivation and could subsequently improve engagement in work and social interactions.”
The physiological reaction to caffeine
When caffeine is consumed, it is absorbed by the gut and shortly sent to the liver to be broken down and metabolized, then sent throughout the body. Some are sent to the brain. Once in the brain, caffeine blocks adenosine receptors, which increases dopamine and wakefulness. The function of adenosine receptors is to regulate sleep, heart rate, inflammation, dilation of the blood vessels, and the release of neurotransmitters. Caffeine increases cortisol and adrenaline in the body. Cortisol is a stress hormone regulated by your pituitary gland located in the brain and your adrenal glands, which sit on top of each kidney.
It is easy to demonize cortisol, but it also helps you manage your stress response, inflammation, and metabolism. Adrenaline, also called epinephrine, is a hormone that causes an increase in heart rate and increases respiration efficacy. It also increases blood glucose so that energy is readily available. Caffeine is metabolized as paraxanthine. Paraxanthine is one of the main stimulant components that make up coffee. Today, many people utilize this beneficial aspect as a pre-workout.
Caffeine and Culture
Culturally, it is very common to meet someone for a latte or have your daily cup of joe in your morning routine. Coffee is a big part of my family. My husband and I started working at a local coffee shop when we began college and became fast friends. I met my matron of honor through the coffee shop. Any time my dad’s side of the family gets together for Thanksgiving or Christmas, you better believe there is a pot of coffee brewing. Everyone is standing around the kitchen conversing as they fix their cup of coffee to their liking.
On Thanksgiving morning, we sit in our pajamas and sip our coffee while watching the Macy’s Day parade with my mother and father-in-law. I have so many fond memories tied to coffee, and that might play a role in why we find it comforting or maybe a crutch at times. It is not that coffee makes the memory; instead, it adds to our senses. Taste and smell can affect the amygdala and enhance a memory’s strength. I wrote about this in a previous blog I will link here: https://wonderfullymade-kmk.com/creatures-made-to-worship/
Community coffee brings
As you can see from the above paragraph, I am a little biased toward a love for coffee. Coffee really does bring community. For fun, comment down below how you take your coffee 🙂
Lord, Thank you for every good or hard conversation held over coffee. Thank you for every holiday or group gathering we spent with our family. Family is so important; I hope we never take our loved ones for granted. God, please help us not to rely on anything in this world except you. You are the provider of all things, including energy. To you all praise, glory, and honor Lord. Amen.