So many of us can’t start our mornings without a small vat of coffee. Just hook it to our veins.
Particularly when the mornings are freezing cold and dark, it’s little wonder that we rely on a caffeine buzz to get us going. But the benefits of coffee have been long-disputed. No one seems to be sure if it’s healthy or not, or how much we should be drinking.
While research does certainly point to some health benefits, other experts believe that too much caffeine can have a lasting, detrimental effect on your body and skin.
Caffeine is a stimulant that manipulates dopamine levels in the brain and when large amounts of it are released it creates feelings of pleasure.
The pleasure centres in certain parts of the brain which are activated by dopamine, motivate you to repeat the same behaviour – which is why so many people may be addicted to caffeine without realising it.
Nutritionist Jade Taylor at home and nutrition brand Kitchenhome explains five key ways too much caffeine can disrupt your body and gives tips on how to reduce your intake for a healthier lifestyle:
1) Trouble sleeping
‘Caffeine increases the brains alertness and while that’s great first thing in the morning or when you are trying to get that report to a client, it’s not great when you are trying to sleep’ Taylor says.
‘Research shows that it takes between 15-45 minutes for caffeine to take full effect and temporarily relieve fatigue and drowsiness, it does, however, stay in your system for about five-six hours, so make sure you time that last caffeine hit at the office if you want a to enjoy a good night’s sleep.
‘You can help your body to process caffeine faster by working out, eating food or drinking lots of water.’
2) Caffeine jitters
‘Whether you preferred hot drink is a coffee or a tea, both have almost the same amount of caffeine in them.
‘Exceeding four or five cups of your favourite caffeine-filled drink can lead to migraines and jitteriness.
Taylor says that even if your go-to drink isn’t a hot one, you can still have too much caffeine without noticing. Don’t forget about your afternoon can of something fizzy – it all adds up.
‘If you are trying to reduce your daily dose of caffeine, aim to have a glass of water between every coffee or tea you drink, to begin with,’ Taylor suggests, ‘and you’ll soon notice you are drinking less, even better, substitute all drinks with a herbal tea or a bottle of water.’
3) Headaches
Many of us rely on a morning cup of tea or coffee as a ritual to get through the day, and without it often experience irritability.
Taylor explains: ‘Headaches can also occur as a symptom of too much caffeine, but once you’re hooked, headaches are also a symptom of withdrawal.’
Taylor says caffeinated drinks are high in acid which can cause heartburn. If you’re considering quitting or cutting down on your daily caffeine intake, she says it’s important to be sensible about it and not go cold turkey – as it can lead to drowsiness, anxiety and irritability.
‘Caffeine is addictive, to avoid being the office grouch, do your colleagues a favour and reduce consumption gradually,’ she adds. ‘You can try decaf or brewing your tea for a shorter amount of time which will reduce the amount of caffeine.’
4) Your skin
Caffeine is a diuretic so ultimately it dries out your skin. Taylor says drinking too much caffeine can make your skin look dull and aged.
‘If you cut out caffeine from your diet, you’ll see positive results in your skin in less than 30 days as your liver detoxes naturally and cleanses your body,’ she adds. ‘This is because your skin will start to rehydrate itself.’
There are high levels of acid in caffeine that can trigger a stress response in your body. Taylor explains that this response alerts your adrenal glands to go into overdrive and release excess hormones – which could alter your blood sugar levels and release excess insulin.
‘The increase of insulin results in more oil being produced and more oil means clogged pores which can lead to acne,’ she says.
‘Before you change to an expensive skincare routine, consider reducing your caffeine intake and drinking lots of water, you might be surprised.’
5) Your weight
The UK alone consumes 165 million cups of tea and 70 million cups of coffee a day, and most of us add sugar or milk.
Taylor notes: ‘If you’re a latte lover, you should note that your luxury latte from your favourite coffee shop can contain in excess of 500 calories. If you indulge in two or three a day, that’s already 1500 calories without taking into account any meals.’
Most people add on average 3.5 teaspoons of sugar and more than two thirds of us add milk to their tea or coffee.
‘Try reducing your sugar intake by one teaspoon at a time,’ suggests Taylor, ‘and you might find that you still actually enjoy your coffee the same without sugar. Consider substituting cow’s milk for almond milk which has fewer calories.’
Taylor adds: ‘While there are worse things to be addicted to, caffeine has minimal nutritional value.’
Kicking that caffeine habit might seem very daunting, but Taylor says that cutting down could leave you with more energy than you thought possible – and your skin will thank you for it.
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source https://metro.co.uk/2020/01/28/five-ways-caffeine-can-disrupt-skin-body-12136312/
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