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Is Caffeine Safe For Consumption?

by — Last updated: 2023-01-30 in Nutrition & Dieting

Table of Contents

Coffee is the most consumed of beverages. But, what is it that endears coffee to us humans? Mood elevation, alertness, improved cognition and performance are some of the qualities that may very well make coffee just the thing we need in the morning.

Despite caffeine being a ‘behaviorally active’ substance, it is seldom associated with adverse health events –  even in cases of long-term use in moderately high doses.

Although, it is ingrained in the popular psyche that caffeine causes anxiety, there isn't much scientific evidence that it does so. Even in patients with pre-existing anxiety, caffeine doesn't seem to add to the anxious state . Having said that, very high doses of caffeine (1000 mg or more) do seem to induce anxiety and jitteriness.

Read More: Positive And Negative Health Effects Of Caffeine

The association between coffee consumption and psychiatric disorders – similar to anxiety – has not been proven either. However, it has been reported that caffeine may worsen the severity of schizophrenia symptoms in diagnosed individuals. 

Depression, on the other hand, as would be suspected is affected favorably by drinking coffee as caffeine has a small but important mood lifting effect.

Caffeine dependence and withdrawal symptoms

Sudden cessation of coffee drinking in habitual users can lead to withdrawal symptoms – fatigue, decreased ability to focus or work, depression and headache.

However, these symptoms are usually transient and disappear by the third day of abstinence.

In general, caffeine when consumed in low to moderate doses – especially in the form of coffee seems to be generally safe. No wonder then, government agencies have rarely put restrictions on the use of caffeine. Also, even though caffeine has been shown to enhance sports performance, WADA – in 2004 – removed caffeine from its doping list. This is so because caffeine does not seem to undermine health – one of the main reasons cited for banning a substance.

An interesting fact is that while previously, researchers tended to brand caffeine a ‘potential drug of abuse’, the recent scientific view is that caffeine is a ‘model drug of abuse’ – meaning that if you were to ever get addicted to a substance, it better be caffeine rather than some other sinister drug!

Take home message

Caffeine seems to be quite an effective ‘performance enhancing’ aid – weather at your place of work or on the field. Furthermore, it seems to elevate mood, reduce reaction times and improve cognition. It is, therefore, quite understandable that we just can’t jump-start our day without a cup of coffee.  

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  • Mindmap by steadyhealth.com
  • Photo courtesy of Katherine Lim by Flickr : www.flickr.com/photos/ultrakml/6064602856/

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