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Most of us depend on a fresh cup of coffee to get us moving in the morning, but many other foods and beverages that we consume throughout the day also contain caffeine. The closer to bedtime we ingest caffeinated items, the more likely they are to disturb our sleep.
Want to read more about what may be keeping you up at night? Click through the gallery for more information.
There’s a ninth century legend that says that the first person to discover coffee was a goat herder in the forests of the Ethiopian plateau.
The herder, Kaldi, noticed that his goats were particularly energized after feeding from a certain tree. In fact, they were unable to sleep at night due to their alertness.
Kaldi shared the information with a local monastery, who then made a beverage from the tree and tested it on themselves. The knowledge of the tree’s potential spread from there.
By the 15th century, the coffee trade was bustling in the Arabian Peninsula, particularly in what is now known as Yemen. It spread throughout the region in the centuries to come.
Although coffee could, at that point, be consumed at home, many had their cup of Joe in public coffee houses. These coffee houses became critical social spaces.
By the 17th century, the trend of consuming the “wine of Araby” was becoming increasingly popular in Europe, but wasn’t received with great enthusiasm by the public.
In fact, its effects caused a level of fear in the population, with some referring to the beverage as the “bitter invention of Satan.”
It was only after Pope Clement VIII tasted coffee himself and, finding it enjoyable, provided his approval of its consumption that it became more accepted.
By the 19th century, coffee was one of the world’s most profitable trade items. It became a fixture in work and study spaces throughout the world.
Today, studies show that most adults around the world consume some form of energizing beverage or food on a daily basis.
While coffee is a popular commodity, caffeine is a natural substance found in many plants, including tea leaves, cacao (pictured), and other items.
Its synthetic version is sometimes added to particular medications due to its anti-inflammatory effects, and is found in the increasingly consumed energy drinks.
Caffeine consumption can come with a series of unwanted side effects, such as headaches, nervousness, and even jitteriness.
Studies show that caffeine can also impact your ability to get a good night’s rest, especially if it’s consumed in the afternoon.
The Sleep Foundation reports that nearly 90% of those who habitually consume caffeine in the latter part of their day have also reported at least one sleep issue.
What’s up with that? Well, caffeine is a natural stimulant for the central nervous system, which is why it can be so beneficial at the beginning of the day.
Throughout the day, the human body produces adenosine, which gradually builds up until bedtime to make us feel sleepy. The peak of adenosine production is when we feel the most sleepy.
Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors and prevents us from feeling its sleep-inducing effects. Instead, our brains are often on overdrive, struggling to get to sleep or stay asleep.
Therefore, when we consume caffeine too late in the day, the stimulating effects impact our sleep at night. Some people are more sensitive to this than others.
The issue, of course, in addition to the health impacts of poor sleep quality, is that the worse our sleep is, the more dependent we are on caffeine the next day.
Therefore, this can be quite a vicious cycle to break. The more we consume caffeine, the less we sleep. The less we sleep, the more we need caffeine to keep us functioning throughout the day.
Specialists recommend that we don’t consume caffeinated products in the eight hours before hitting the sack.
Everyone’s response to caffeine is different, so guidelines should be adjusted to your sensitivity levels in terms of caffeine metabolization.
For those who are very sensitive to caffeine intake, even a small amount of caffeine in the morning could disrupt sleep quality in the evening.
Most specialists do recommend cutting back on caffeine consumption, as the dangers of poor sleep are quite grave for the human body.
Firstly, poor sleep quality impacts our reaction times. It also messes with our moods, making us more irritable.
Secondly, we now know that sleep quality is a significant health indicator. The worse our sleep, the more at-risk we are to develop problems like heart disease and diabetes.
There is no way to make up for sleep deprivation. No amount of caffeine consumption will substitute the effects of good quality sleep.
Instead of grabbing your afternoon cup, consider integrating energy-boosting alternatives in your day-to-day life, such as ensuring sleep hygiene, exercising regularly, and taking a power nap when all else fails.
Sources: (about coffee) (Sleep Foundation) (Atlantic Health)
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HEALTH Coffee
Most of us depend on a fresh cup of coffee to get us moving in the morning, but many other foods and beverages that we consume throughout the day also contain caffeine. The closer to bedtime we ingest caffeinated items, the more likely they are to disturb our sleep.
Want to read more about what may be keeping you up at night? Click through the gallery for more information.