Coffee: Addiction or Pleasant Diversion?

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In our cooling northern climate, we often bribe ourselves out of bed with a hot cup of coffee.  Have you had someone tell you that you drink too much coffee?  Are you useless without that morning pick-me-up that fires up your brain and gets your toes tapping?

You’re not alone, of course (witness Starbucks and many independent coffee chains doing a booming business), with about 65% of Canadian Adults consuming coffee daily, according to the Coffee Association of Canada.  The same association also says a pre-workout coffee will help you boost your endurance, burn fat instead of glycogen, decrease muscle pain & even aid hydration.  Yes, I said “aid hydration”.  This is due to a study from the UK that found while coffee is diuretic if not consumed regularly, it doesn’t have the commonly thought effect of dehydrating the body if you are a regular drinker.

Although the internet disagrees about coffee’s addictive properties, with Wikipedia citing a “slight physical dependence”, wheras the Smithsonian explains the architectural changes made in the brain to our chemical receptors through ongoing coffee consumption.  These changes lead to feelings of withdrawal should you stop drinking coffee that can include: metal fog, muscle fatigue, tiredness, headache, nausea, dull muscle pain & flu-like symptoms.

So, is caffeine addictive?  Yes, but it’s a manageable and socially acceptable addiction that you can feel free to embrace as the weather gets colder.  And to those people who tell you you drink too much coffee?  Just cite the liver health benefits and naturally occurring antioxidants present in caffeine while you pour yourself another cup!

Do you like to drink coffee?  What’s your favourite?