The Boston Tea Party changed many things, the drinking habits as well. In 1773 the American drinking preference for coffee was born. But, unlike today, only well situated people were able to afford real coffee. Poorer classes drank a substitution in form of malt- and chicory-based-coffee – both contain no caffeine.
On the one hand, drinking coffee stimulates sociability (coffee break in the office, for example) on the other hand it serves to fight small “energy slumps”. The caffeine in the coffee is known to be a stimulant, it also stimulates the flow of thoughts and positively influences our short term memory.
But, there is a side effect to caffeine: it lowers the release of the neurotransmitter adenosine. Adenosine has a calming and soothing effect; as a consequence we become tired. A decrease of the adenosine level leads to a reduced sleeping quality and even to sleeplessness. So, caffeine-containing beverages might have a negative effect on your sleep, especially on a healthy, restful and above all bioenergetic sleep®.
Furthermore, caffeine influences our sleeping phases – the phases of deep sleep are reduced and REM-phases disturbed. Fewer deep sleep leads to insufficient physical recovery and people concerned won’t be sufficiently rested in the morning. During phases of deep sleep the immune system is strengthened. Thus, if we are having too few deep sleep we are more prone to banal infects like a cold, for example. Disturbances in our REM-sleep lead to irritability, diminished concentration and weakening of short term memory.
Depending on the sensitivity of an individual to caffeine, the effects are more or less severe. In case that the above mentioned disturbances arise try to avoid drinking caffeine containing beverages like coffee, black and green tea, cacao or energy drinks in the late afternoon and evening.
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Image source: @deathtothestockphoto
This post is also available in / Diesen Beitrag gibt es auch in: German
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