An estimated 80 percent of Americansdrink coffee.
It’s the second most traded commodity on Earth.
Which makes sense, because coffee tastes great and gives you energy.
I love my coffee.
I start every morning with a nice cup of cold brew.
Have you ever wondered what actually happens to your body when you drink coffee?
I went to the experts to find out.
“Dopamine, the feel good hormone, is prevented from getting reabsorbed into your blood stream.
You feel happier.”
Improved vision is one of the positive effects of fight or flight mode.Dr.
As a result, your pupils dilate slightly and you might actually have sharper vision."
Melissa Hooper, MS, RD,expert registered dietitian and nutritionist, agreed.
The caffeine is a diuretic, which increases urinary production, and thus urinary output.
Theophylline is found in drugs to help open airways in the lungs to relieve symptoms of asthma.
One study found that even small amounts of caffeine can improve lung function for up to four hours."
This research goes way back.
In 1993, a physician atHarvard Universityfound that coffee helped the muscles surrounding the bronchial passages to relax.
She added, “Coffee can have effects on getting a good night’s rest.
Not the best news for coffee lovers who are trying to get pregnant.
Beth Witherspoon, registered dietitian consultant for Community Coffee Company,agreed.
You get smarter
Caffeine makes you feel more focused and alert.
Hooper told me, “The caffeine acts as a stimulant and may increase mental functioning.
The brain sends out neurotransmitters, which impacts cognition.
Sharp explained the chemical effect behind your improved focus.
Sharp added that coffee also makes you smarter because it improves your long term memory.
She said, “Research suggests that coffee may have a positive impact on long term memory.
Sandie Gascon, Functional Diagnostic Nutrition Practitioner & Holistic Healing Coach, agreed.
She warned, “Over time you will need more and more coffee to produce the same effects.
By increasing dopamine you will deplete serotonin.
This leads to depression and anxiety.”
If you find yourself feeling anxious without knowing why, cut back on your coffee intake.
You might miss that fourth cup of coffee in the afternoon, but you’ll feel better overall.
Drink in moderation
One of the key takeaways from the experts is to drink coffee in moderation.
She told me, “Coffee is addictive.
Being addicted to anything is not a healthy behavior.”
