The Pros and Cons of Coffee

I have the biggest exam of my life tomorrow morning. However, I am no where near prepared. So I plan to study all night, as I am sure many other students in my dorm will be doing the same. I start preparing for the long night ahead. I walk downstairs at around 8pm to the single coffee pot in the dorm. I stand there in the long line of girls with the same plan as mine for nearly an hour. I fill a jug of coffee and return upstairs to focus and study away. The scent of coffee and creamer is swirling around the whole dorm as everyone's butts are in there chairs and noses in books for the next several hours. Thank God for caffeine, or I would have A… never passed the test, or B… slept through the test.

So, what are the pros and cons of this wonderful drink?

PROS

1. Coffee keeps the mind healthy. It has antioxidant properties, that protect your brain cells and keep them healthy. As well as boost the performance of your neurotransmitters. Because of this, studies have shown that drinking coffee can play a part in preventing illnesses like Alzheimer's.

2. Shown to prevent type two diabetes. Drinking between 4 and 6 cups of coffee a day could make you 30–35% less likely to develop diabetes, compared to people who don’t drink coffee. Fortunately, decaffeinated coffee has the same affect.

3. Coffee has shown to cause better cognition. People who drink coffee are proven to likely preform day to day tasks better than people who don’t drink coffee. You are also more likely to effectively learn and retain new information.

CONS

1. Coffee causes people to lose calcium. Overtime, excessive coffee drinkers put themselves at risk of osteoporosis, which causes you to lose bone density and become more fragile. Fortunately, this can be prevented by adding milk into your coffee.
2. Coffee can cause weight gain. Caffeine can cause our blood sugar levels to fluctuate. This can lead to sugar cravings. When these hit, people are more likely to choose something sweet and fatty to snack on. Also, most people add sugars and creamers to their coffee which can also cause this.

3. Sleep loss is a real problem for those who consume a lot of coffee. The guideline to remember is that it typically takes about 6 hours for coffee to completely leave your system, so it’s probably a good idea not to drink much or any after 6PM. However, decaf is still an option.

SOURCE:

Thomas, Isaac Sam. “Pros and Cons of Drinking Coffee.” Expert Nutrition & Dietetics Service, Expert Nutrition & Dietetics Service, 26 Jan. 2021, www.spectrumnutrition.ie/blog/pros-and-cons-of-drinking-coffee.