Coffee undoubtedly is one of the most popular hot beverages in the world these days, but guess what? The reasons for that are more than good, so stay with us if you want to learn more about how coffee can increase our productivity. Also, you’ll figure out why people love coffee so much, in what way caffeine actually works, and what are some restrictions when it comes to your daily caffeine intake. All you have to do is to keep on reading, check out our tips, and enjoy!
First of all – why do people love coffee so much?
Millions of people from all over the globe can’t start their day without a big cup of coffee. There is something magical about this brewed drink, and you know what? Although it has numerous amazing benefits, coffee is much more than just that. It’s a global phenomenon that connects people, and that’s because coffee is an inevitable part of any gathering. Many men and women claim that a cup of strong coffee can calm their nerves and help them forget about their everyday struggles – at least for half an hour. Simply put, coffee drinking has become something of a ritual for many people across the globe. They enjoy it no matter how busy they are or how much free time they have. You can love it or hate it, but there certainly is something special about coffee no one can deny!
What makes coffee so exceptional?
Even though a lot of people drink coffee because of its incredible flavour, the majority of them love it because of the coffee’s most prized ingredient – caffeine. It’s a natural stimulant most commonly found in coffee, tea, and cacao plants. What’s interesting about caffeine is the fact that it doesn’t have any nutritional value on its own. It doesn’t have a specific taste either, so you can’t know which foods and drinks contain it. However, caffeine will undoubtedly make you feel much more alert and energetic. Some people also claim that coffee can boost their productivity by helping them stay focused on the task. But do you know how caffeine really works?
Science 101: How does caffeine really work?
Well, we can freely say that caffeine makes you feel awake by fooling your adenosine receptors. In case you didn’t know, adenosine is a sleep-regulating molecule located in your nervous system. As the day comes to an end, it makes you feel sleepy and prepares you for the night. When you drink your coffee, caffeine gets absorbed in your intestines within an hour. Once it starts entering your brain, caffeine starts competing with adenosine in order to keep you awake. Caffeine in your blood will reach its peak within two hours, which is when you’ll feel super energised and alert. Of course, caffeine molecules will eventually unbind from the adenosine receptors. This is when you’ll start feeling sleepy again.
How can coffee increase your productivity?
● It boosts your alertness
When it comes to coffee and productivity, we must say that this hot beverage can definitely boost your alertness in the first place. As mentioned above, caffeine will fight with your sleep-regulating receptors to keep you awake and alert. Needless to say, this is one of the most important advantages of drinking coffee on a daily basis. What’s particularly great about coffee is that you don’t have to drink litres to experience its benefits. In fact, only 95mg of caffeine a day will be more than enough for you to see its fantastic effects. It is just one cup of coffee! Of course, you can always drink more than that, too. Just listen to your body and try to stick to the caffeine intake recommendations. Up to 400mg a day is safe for most healthy adults, so bear that in mind and don’t go overboard with your coffee!
● It improves your memory and cognition
Did you know that coffee can also improve your memory and cognition? Some studies even show that increased caffeine intake can reduce the risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers concluded this after following a group of people with mild cognitive impairment for a couple of years. They found that people who didn’t develop dementia had twice as much caffeine in their blood than those who developed it. Since this natural stimulant has cognition-enhancing properties, many companies are investing in top-quality coffee machines. Of course, you can rent a coffee machine instead to see how your employees will react to it. Improved alertness and cognition are highly likely to result in increased productivity and memory retention – as well as short coffee breaks – so don’t wait any longer and incorporate such a machine into your business space. Trust us when we say that everyone will love such an improvement!
● It boosts your mood
Apart from boosting your alertness and improving your memory and cognition, drinking caffeine on a daily basis can positively affect your mood, too. This is particularly true if you’re a huge coffee lover who gets excited about their first cup of coffee immediately after waking up. These feelings of joy and happiness will play a huge role in your overall mood, which is why you shouldn’t skip your coffee in the morning. When you’re in a good mood, it’s highly likely that you’ll be more eager to tackle all daily responsibilities with more success. This is a benefit you shouldn’t overlook either. When it comes to the amount of caffeine that can boost your mood in the morning, we’re talking about 75mg. It means that only one cup of coffee will be enough to make you feel much better. Take advantage of it and you’ll see it yourself!
● It reduces tiredness and fatigue
When you feel tired and fatigued, you won’t be able to be as productive and creative as it’s the case when you’re well-rested. Even though a cup of coffee won’t magically erase a lack of sleep, the truth is that it can reduce tiredness and fatigue to some extent. Apart from that, some people even say that coffee can boost your physical performance as well. This is simply because caffeine found in coffee can reduce inflammation in your body. And what does that mean? It means that it serves as quick pain relief by reducing your headaches and other types of pain that can interfere with work. It’s also good to know that caffeine can stimulate the release of dopamine in the brain. It’s a feel-good chemical that can balance out your emotions throughout the day. Once that’s done, you’ll feel a boost of energy and productivity!
● It can help you lose weight, too
Even though this probably doesn’t seem too logical, the truth is that weight gain can be detrimental to your productivity. This is particularly true if you’re doing any type of physical work, when extra weight can put your body under too much pressure and prevent it from functioning properly. So, if you have weight issues, you must know that drinking coffee every day can help you shed extra pounds. First of all, caffeine in coffee can suppress your appetite and temporarily reduce your desire to eat. This can be quite helpful if you tend to snack often throughout the day. Aside from that, caffeine intake also stimulates thermogenesis. Your body will generate more energy and heat from digesting food while burning calories much faster at the same time. Give coffee a try if you want to lose weight and you’ll see what we were talking about!
Important things for all coffee lovers to remember
● Try not to drink coffee the first thing in the morning
Yes, we know that millions of people find drinking coffee the first thing in the morning absolutely inevitable. However, we must say that having a cup of coffee on an empty stomach is exactly what you should avoid. Some experts claim that coffee can stimulate the production of stomach acid. This means that it’s highly likely to irritate your stomach and exacerbate the symptoms of gut diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome. Besides that, coffee can also cause nausea, ulcers, heartburn, acid reflux, and other issues when you drink it before breakfast. When there’s no food to prevent the acid from harming your stomach, it’s naturally more prone to damage. So, to avoid potential problems with your stomach, eat your breakfast before you have a cup of coffee and you’ll do a great job!
● Stay properly hydrated no matter what
In case you didn’t know, coffee is a diuretic, which means that it can dehydrate your body. It can also make you feel the need to urinate often, which is why you need to stay properly hydrated no matter what – especially if you’re an avid coffee drinker. So, to keep yourself as hydrated as possible, make sure to drink at least one glass of water per cup of coffee. This is essential because coffee is acidic, too, as mentioned above. Drinking water will prevent your stomach from irritation, which is another benefit you shouldn’t overlook. Apart from those few glasses of water per cup of coffee, you should definitely drink at least 2 litres of water a day as well. Sufficient water intake is vital as it will allow your body to function properly throughout the day. Don’t skip it under any circumstances!
● Drink your coffee black
If you’re a huge fan of flavoured lattes that feature a bunch of delicious syrups, whipped cream, chocolate sprinkles, and similar stuff – welcome to the club, you certainly aren’t the only one here! However, you must know that these coffee additions can do more harm than good. These are rich in artificially added sugars, food colouring, flavour enhancers, and other potentially harmful ingredients. Apart from taking a toll on your overall health, these are highly likely to result in a weight gain, too – especially if you tend to drink them on a daily basis. So, drink your coffee black if you want to prevent health and weight issues. Also, try not to mix coffee and alcohol. This combo is a huge no-no if you want to stay productive and alert all day long. Just stay away from Irish coffee and similar caffeinated drinks and you’ll be more than fine!
● Be extra careful with the amount of coffee you drink every day
Last but certainly not least, remember that the amount of coffee you drink every day truly matters. As mentioned above, around 400mg of caffeine a day is safe for most healthy adults. This is about four regular cups of coffee every day. Did you know that ten cans of cola also contain around 400mg of caffeine? That’s right; however, try to stay away from these since they are packed with sugar and other harmful ingredients. Instead, stick to your coffee for daily caffeine intake. Of course, no one says that you must drink 400mg of caffeine to boost your productivity and alertness. Just find your perfect dosage and the amount of coffee that works best for your body. For example, if a single cup is too much for you, but you still need a caffeine boost – go for a cup of tea and you won’t make a mistake!
As you can see, we’ve finally proven that coffee can increase your productivity by keeping you alert, boosting your mood, reducing tiredness and fatigue, and improving your memory and cognition. If you ask us, each of these factors is crucial for becoming more productive – both in and out of work. So, if that’s exactly what you need, it’s about time you started drinking coffee! Besides that, caffeine found in coffee can help you lose some weight, too, which is always a good thing, right? Also, there are some restrictions you should bear in mind as well. Firstly, don’t drink your coffee the first thing in the morning. Make sure to stay properly hydrated no matter what, don’t add unnecessary stuff to your coffee, and don’t go overboard with the amount of coffee you drink every day. It’s quite simple when you think about it, isn’t it?
Bio:
Nina is a lifestyle blogger, yoga aficionado and a travel enthusiast with a distinctive taste for home decor. She’s passionate about learning new things and sharing meaningful ideas. In her free time, she loves to design clothes and furniture. If you wanna see what she’s up to you can find her on twitter
