If you’re anything like 62 percent of Americans, a delicious cup of coffee starts your morning off on the right note. Thanks to popular companies like Starbucks and Dunkin’, it seems like a new caffeinated beverage is hot (or iced!) on the market every single week.
According to the National Coffee Association, seven out of 10 Americans drink at least one cup of coffee weekly, while the average coffee drinker enjoys around three cups daily. Since 2015, there has been a five percent increase in coffee consumption, and it’s safe to say that we are drinking more coffee than ever before. While coffee accounts for the majority of caffeinated beverage consumption, tea, energy drinks, soda and chocolate often contain caffeine as well.
Many guests at Skyterra Young Adult struggle with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), so it’s important that both guests and their parents recognize the potential correlation between their routine cup of joe and struggles with their mental health. Here and now, we’ll discuss both the pros and cons of caffeine consumption, as well as the potential relationship between caffeine and GAD. By the end of this read, you’ll have important takeaways in your toolbox to help you find a healthy balance when it comes to caffeine.
The Benefits of Caffeine
Caffeine is a naturally-occurring compound present in coffee, tea, and chocolate, which has a profound effect on the sympathetic nervous system, the body’s “fight or flight” mechanism. According to the Institute of Medicine US Committee on Military Nutrition Research in their publication Caffeine for the Sustainment of Mental Task Performance, caffeine is a stimulant for the central nervous system (CNS), directly resulting in numerous physiological and psychological effects. These include enhanced mood and alertness, physical and cognitive performance, and improved memory. Caffeine works on the bodily chemical adenosine as an agonist, blocking its action. Adenosine is important for sleep, memory, cell production, and calmness. Since said action is blocked, heightened sympathetic nervous system activity is observed. Caffeine likely has a similar action to serotonin neurons associated with dopamine releases, resulting in good feelings, mood, and energy. Metabolism and sensitivity to caffeine can differ drastically from person to person. For most, caffeine is metabolized and absorbed within 45 minutes after consumption.
In small doses, caffeine has a wide variety of benefits, including increased alertness and energy, enhanced physical and cognitive performance, and improved productivity and memory. Studies suggest that coffee can even help those with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s because it has the potential to slow cognitive decline due to its antioxidant properties. Similarly, chlorogenic acid (CGA), another antioxidant found in coffee beans and cocoa, has been linked to a decline in neurodegenerative diseases.
If you’re feeling low on energy, a couple of sips of coffee or a piece of dark chocolate can certainly give you the “pick me up” you need!
Potential Drawbacks of Caffeine Consumption
Like anything, too much of a good thing can backfire. According to the FDA, less than 400 mg of caffeine daily is generally recognized as safe. For pregnant women, research suggests limiting caffeine to 200 mg daily for the safety of both the mother and child. The metabolism of caffeine is highly individualized, with some having a lower tolerance and higher sensitivity to its effects.
To put that into perspective, coffee contains between 80-100 mg per cup, which can be highly dependent on the strength of the brew and/or beans. Caffeinated sodas and tea are relatively similar, ranging between 30-50 mg per cup. Energy drinks have the widest range, containing up to 250 mg per serving.
Exceeding 400 mg of caffeine can lead to disrupted sleep patterns, irregular heartbeat, headaches, irritability, frequent urination and excessive thirst, and increased symptoms of anxiety.
Similar to the pathways that enhance our mood and energy, caffeine’s impact on the sympathetic nervous system and adenosine can cause disruptions to calming mechanisms, sleep patterns, and normal regulation of nervous system action. Caffeine delays the onset of melatonin, a hormone produced by the brain for natural sleep-wake cycles. It can last up to six hours in the body, significantly affecting sleep quality if consumed too close to bedtime, or even in the afternoon. Studies have shown disruptions to the body’s circadian rhythm and reduced deep sleep quantity.
It’s important to be mindful of the amount and timing of caffeine consumption. Consider having one to two cups of coffee daily while stopping your intake at least between six and eight hours before going to bed. At Skyterra Young Adult, we recommend our guests halt caffeine consumption by at least 2 P.M.
The Relationship between Caffeine and Anxiety Disorder
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders affect roughly 40 million Americans over the age of 18. With nearly 20 percent of the population affected, anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, with over half of those diagnosed also suffering from depression. Anxiety disorders include Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) amount others. Symptoms of anxiety disorders include irritability, racing heartbeat, difficulty controlling emotions and worry, fatigue, restlessness, on-edge, headaches, stomach discomfort, disrupted sleep patterns, and difficulty concentrating.
While excessive amounts of caffeine can mimic symptoms of anxiety, caffeine is not the root cause. Those with anxiety disorder are often highly sensitive to caffeine, enhancing nervous system activity, and giving symptoms similar to anxiety. Upon the onset of symptoms, intensity worsens, creating an anxiety-like reaction.
Next time you are feeling unexplained anxiety, restlessness, or disrupted sleep patterns, consider taking a deeper dive into your caffeine consumption. Being aware of the overlap between caffeine consumption and anxiety disorders is important.
Our Recommendations
Drinking a small amount of coffee or tea in the morning can benefit performance and alertness. At Skyterra Young Adult, mindfulness is key for almost everything we do! It’s important to be mindful of caffeine intake, to enhance its beneficial effects. Here are our tips for developing a healthy relationship with caffeine:
- Consume caffeine with a meal or snack: It’s important to consume caffeine with food and/or on a full stomach. Caffeine will be absorbed significantly faster if consumed on its own. On an empty stomach, symptoms of anxiety can worsen.
- Drink plenty of water: Caffeine is a natural diuretic, causing you to urinate. For every caffeinated beverage, consume an additional 1-2 glasses of water.
- Be aware of added sugars: Specialty coffee beverages, energy drinks, and soda contain a high amount of added sugar. Best practice suggests choosing options that are low in added sugar to further promote health and well-being.
- Make note of hunger and fullness cues: Caffeine can suppress appetite, especially when consumed early in the morning. If you are someone who struggles to feel physical hunger/fullness, consider drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages after your meal.
- Consider half-caffeinated beverages: If you are someone who enjoys the taste, experience, and aromas of a nice cup of coffee, consider a half-caffeinated, half-decaf cup of coffee to eliminate excess caffeine.
- Eliminate caffeine 6-8 hours before bed: Even the smallest amount of caffeine can have an effect on your circadian rhythm and sleep schedule. Try to leave a large window of time between your last caffeinated beverage and bedtime.
- Deep breaths and walking: If you have had a little too much caffeine and are feeling anxious, take a couple of deep breaths and move your body. Calming our nervous system and light movement can help improve the side effects of excessive caffeine.
In Conclusion
Caffeine’s beneficial effects, physiologically and psychologically, can enhance health and wellness when consumed in safe amounts. While enhancing mood, alertness, and physical and cognitive performance, having a cup of coffee, or two, in the morning can be a great addition to your morning routine. While its benefits are profound, too much caffeine can backfire quickly. The prevalence of anxiety disorders is on the rise, accounting for over 40 million people in the US. Large amounts of caffeine can mimic symptoms of anxiety disorders, worsening side effects. Consider a few of our favorite action steps to ensure safe consumption of caffeine.
At Skyterra Young Adult, our goal is to help guests to develop healthier relationships with food, as well as guide them to be able to tackle their nutrition with confidence. For more information on our culinary and nutrition education at Skyterra Young Adult, click here.
