Coffee is a popular beverage that is consumed around the world. Like many other things, coffee has its pros but it also has its cons. It is important to drink coffee in moderation and be able to control the habit.

Pros of Drinking Coffee

• Coffee Can Improve Your Mental Performance

Consuming coffee can increase your level of alertness. Due to this, the caffeine in coffee could improve your reaction time.

• Drinking Coffee Can Help You During Your Workout Sessions

The caffeine in coffee can help you feel energized. This extra energy can increase your endurance while working out.

• Coffee Helps with Constipation

Those who experience constipation can drink coffee to help stimulate bowel movements. This is because it increases muscular activity in the colon.

Cons of Drinking Coffee

• Consuming Too Much Coffee Can Make You Irritable or Anxious

Drinking an excessive amount of coffee can affect your mood. This has to do with the amount of caffeine you are consuming. Everybody is different and not everyone has the same tolerance for caffeine. Caffeine constricts the blood cells and speeds up cell activity. Depending on the person, this can result in irritability, anxiety, and jitters.

• Coffee May Give You Digestive Problems

Consuming coffee can contribute to digestive conditions. It can lead to symptoms such as bloating or a burning feeling in the stomach. As mentioned earlier, it also increases muscular activity in the colon. Those that have an existing digestive condition should limit the daily amount of coffee they drink.

• Drinking Coffee Could Negatively Affect Your Sleep Cycle

It is common for people to drink several cups of coffee per day. Drinking coffee within six hours before going to bed can keep you from being able to fall asleep. This is because caffeine takes approximately six hours to completely leave your system. It is best to avoid caffeinated beverages during that time.

• You Could Experience Caffeine Withdrawal

The caffeine in coffee can be addicting. Frequent coffee drinkers may experience withdrawal if they cut down their daily consumption. Symptoms of caffeine withdrawal may include headaches and fatigue.

How to Control the Habit of Drinking Coffee

Although coffee has its benefits, there is such a thing as too much coffee. The caffeine in coffee can be addictive. It is best to keep your habit of drinking coffee under control. The following are a few tips to help control the habit.

• Water Down Your Coffee

When having your coffee, water it down. If you prefer your coffee cold, you could add ice to it. Watering down your coffee decreases the amount of caffeine in it.

• Sleep More

If you drink coffee daily to help keep you awake, you should aim to sleep more. Getting enough sleep will help you improve your energy levels. Once your energy levels are improved, you won’t have to rely on caffeine to keep you alert.

• Decrease the Amount of Coffee You Drink

Many people drink more than one cup of coffee per day. If you do, it is best to slowly cut down your daily consumption. This should be done gradually to avoid symptoms of caffeine withdrawal.

• Workout Often

Working out can help you feel energized. It increases blood circulation and releases endorphins. If you don’t have the time to do a full workout, you could do some jumping jacks for a few minutes to help increase your energy.

Resources

Coffee Abode. “10 Pros And Cons Of Coffee Everyone Should Probably Be Aware Of.” https://coffeeabode.com/pros-and-cons-of-coffee/.

Gardner, Amanda. “9 Ways to Kick the Coffee Habit.” Health.com. https://www.health.com/condition/gerd/9-ways-to-kick-the-coffee-habit.

Kazidomi. “6 Ways To Break The Coffee Habit.” https://www.kazidomi.com/en/blog/6-ways-to-break-the-coffee-habit–n370.

Spectrum Nutrition. “Pros And Cons Of Drinking Coffee.” https://www.spectrumnutrition.ie/blog/pros-and-cons-of-drinking-coffee.

Stewart, Kristen. “10 Ways to Start Your Day Without Caffeine.” Everyday Health. https://www.everydayhealth.com/sleep/101/move-more-drink-less.aspx.

Wallace, Dr. Hazel. The Food Medic. “The Pros + Cons of Coffee.” https://thefoodmedic.co.uk/2021/07/the-pros-cons-of-coffee/.