Common Myths About Caffeine You Need To Stop Believing

Caffeine is a natural, legal, and nonregulated psychoactive drug that is present in coffee, preworkout drinks, cola beverages, chocolate, and energy drinks. It is the most widely used drug in the world and typically boosts energy and euphoria, which helps to fight fatigue. Despite its popularity, several myths about caffeine remain common. Here are six caffeine myths that are simply not true.

It Is Highly Addictive

Caffeine is a somewhat chemically addictive drug that stimulates the brain and central nervous system. However, caffeine should not be considered a physically addictive drug. Although people who consume caffeine regularly may experience irritability and headaches if they do not get their daily dose, caffeine does not threaten their physical or social well-being. In addition, caffeine withdrawal symptoms pale in comparison to those of other drugs and alcohol, and they last for only a few days. Thus, although caffeine may seem like a highly addictive substance because as many as eighty percent of American adults consume it on a regular basis, it is not.

It Is Dehydrating

Beverages that contain caffeine are often believed to have a dehydrating effect, but this is not entirely true. Despite popular belief, caffeine does not cause dehydration. Instead, it increases urination through its diuretic effect. Lawrence Armstrong, a professor of kinesiology at the University of Connecticut, conducted a study that put this myth to rest once and for all. He found that hydration levels between coffee drinkers and nondrinkers were remarkably similar. The water in coffee and tea balances the dehydrating effects of caffeine adequately, although the best way to stay hydrated is to drink water regularly. A daily cup of coffee or an energy drink will do little to negatively affect the body's hydration levels.

It Should Not Be Consumed Before Sleeping

Caffeine is a stimulant, which is why many people believe that drinking it before sleeping is counterproductive. This myth is untrue because drinking coffee before taking a nap can increase alertness after waking up more than drinking coffee just after a nap does. The alertness from caffeine peaks at around thirty minutes after consumption. For this reason, taking a twenty-minute power nap during this thirty-minute period can actually increase readiness to wake up and reduce irritability. Caffeine also stops the body from falling into a deeper state of sleep, which can lead to increased feelings of tiredness upon waking up. Some people even claim their 'coffee naps' turbocharge their brain and are the ultimate power-up for those who need it.

It Can Counteract The Effects Of Alcohol

This myth has been popularized by movies and television shows in which drunk characters drink coffee to sober up. However, experts confirm that this effect of caffeine is not true. Instead, adding a stimulant, such as caffeine, to a depressant, such as alcohol, can have disastrous results. A 2009 study published by the American Psychological Association concluded that college students who drank both alcoholic beverages and coffee were more likely to believe they were sober. These findings suggest that drivers who mix caffeine and alcohol are more likely to be involved in a car accident than drivers who drink only alcohol because they believe the caffeine has sobered them up. In reality, their reaction time and judgment is just as impaired.

It Is Bad For Your Health

Caffeine has several health benefits, such increasing the metabolism, boosting mood, promoting regular bowel movements, and increasing alertness. Some studies even provide evidence that a daily cup of coffee can lower the risk of premature death by up to fifteen percent. One of these studies, which was conducted by the American Heart Association, concluded that higher caffeine intake is associated with a lower mortality rate. Although this evidence does not prove that drinking caffeine causes a decrease in mortality, the study suggests that caffeine may not be as unhealthy as some believe it is. Other studies have found evidence that coffee drinkers experience a boost in memory performance for up to twenty-four hours after consumption and that drinking three to five cups of coffee per day can reduce the risk of Parkinson's disease.

It Causes Sleeplessness And Insomnia

The effects of caffeine are immediate because the body absorbs the drug efficiently. However, the body expels caffeine just as quickly, with fifty percent of the caffeine eliminated within seven hours of consumption and seventy-five percent eliminated within ten hours. These figures are averages because the actual time it takes to eliminate caffeine from the body depends on an individual's size and tolerance for the substance. A 2016 study published in the academic journal Nutrition claims that there is no link between caffeine intake and quality of sleep. As long as it is consumed six hours before bedtime or more, there should be no problems with falling and staying asleep.