Coffee To Go

I love coffee just as much as the next hipster. In fact, I loved coffee before it was cool or iced. Do you remember the TV advert for Revels where they are playing Russian Roulette with the sweets and the loser ended up with coffee? How times have changed. Now it appears everyone loves coffee.

It used to be instant granules that were suffice now we have to have real expensive barista coffee. There are so many versions of coffee. The most extreme is nitro coffee which contains nitrogen. As if caffeine isn’t strong enough! This is part of a wider coffee culture in society. The one that says we need coffee to wake up, to function, and even to live.

I’m blaming the TV show Friends for this! Throughout its 236 episodes, it is estimated the characters drank over 1000 cups of coffee between them. They made socialising in a coffee shop look like a fun thing to do. Since the show ended, I can’t remember being so many coffee shops around. It’s not necessary a bad thing. Coffee has been great for the economy and our social lives. But is it good for our health?

Large amounts of caffeine content in coffee may lead to anxiety or edginess. Moreover, research suggests that that higher caffeine intake appears to increase the amount of time it takes to fall asleep. It may also decrease total sleeping time. Furthermore, caffeine is addictive which leads to psychological or physical dependency. With coffee not being cheap, this can be an expensive habit!

It’s not all bad there are plenty of positives to drinking coffee other than it tasting good. Caffeine is a natural substance which can help burn fat. Research has found that caffeine can increase your metabolic rate. In addition, coffee drinkers tend to have a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, dementia, and Parkinson’s disease. Also, when it comes to exercise, coffee is a great pre-work out drink that can drastically improve physical performance.

There is no straight answer to whether drinking coffee is good or bad. Like anything, we should drink coffee in moderation. If we find ourselves drinking more coffee than water throughout the day then something is not right. Hopefully in the future the new fitness fad will be staying hydrated.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go. I have a coffee date with friends.