Truth About Caffeine

495 Words2 Pages
Are you a caffeine junkie? Do you need a cup of coffee in the morning to be able to talk coherently? If so, you join the millions of people who need caffeine to jump start their day. How much do you really know about caffeine? Do you worry about caffeine having an ill effect on your body? In the following essay I tackle three common myths and let you in on the truth about caffeine. I will start with one of the most common myths regarding caffeine -it sobers you up after drinking too much alcohol, or sobers you up enough to drive. It is true that alcohol and caffeine have very opposite effects on the central nervous system - alcohol is a depressant, caffeine is a stimulant - but the belief that one cancels out the other is wrong. The truth is, although caffeine may decrease the sedative effect of alcohol, reaction time and judgment are still impaired. Coffee can trick your mind into thinking you're close to sobriety, making you feel like you're ready to handle certain activities, such as driving. Studies have proven college kids who drink both alcohol and caffeine are more likely to get into a car accident. Another common myth regarding caffeine is it causing insomnia. Caffeine has a short half-life, so while your body absorbs it quickly, it also gets rid of it quickly. Four to five hours after consuming it, half of the caffeine is gone from your body. Seventy five percent is gone after eight to ten hours. Unless you are extremely sensitive to caffeine, the coffee you drink in the morning to jump start your brain will be long gone by bedtime! Everyone knows caffeine is bad for you, and it has no actual health benefits, right? Wrong! Scientific studies support findings that verify it improves alertness and concentration, gives you energy, and increases feelings of sociability. Caffeine has an anti-inflammatory effect, and also has the
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