Caffeine? Other Stimulants??

[cluckeyo]

I am curious about how many here drink coffee? Or perhaps energy drinks? Is this something you avoid or do you go ahead and enjoy them? I admit that I usually always have my 3 cups of coffee a day. I use 5 Hour energy to help when sleepy while driving. I do have an monster drink. I have always done this. I think even when I was pretty sick I did this and now I wonder if that was wise. Do you avoid these kinds of drinks? Is there any research on this?

 

[explorerX7]

I must confess that I am not a regular coffee drinker. When I drink coffee nowadays it's mostly the readymade flavoured drink from the coffee machine. I do enjoy that type of brew, however. I stay away from energy drinks because I believe they are mostly loaded with artificial caffeine which I don't believe is good for my health.

 

[HappyKoi]

I like iced coffee with sugar, in small doses. I have maybe about one every few months. I kind of like the "rush", but I don't want to develop a tolerance to it, and I don't like feeling shaky.


From what you say, I'm a little worried about your caffeine intake. Caffeine is a stimulant, and so are energy drinks. That 5 Hour Energy has the same caffeine content as a cup of coffee- it says so on the package, if you look. Stimulants can affect your heart, and the acidity of coffee isn't good for your digestive system. Caffeine is okay in moderation, but too much, or a moderate amount daily over a period of time, can put a strain on your heart and put you at risk for cardiac conditions, or it can affect your stomach. You didn't mention if you have anxiety, but if you do, a stimulant can make that worse. There is quite a bit of research out there- I would advocate doing a search and checking the sources. There is a rumor out there that coffee does have some health benefits, but you would have to drink a fairly large amount to get enough of the chemical to do you any good, and, as I mentioned, that in itself can cause problems.


Sometimes that tired feeling is actually caffeine withdrawal. I've been through it- you feel sleepy for no reason, may give you a headaches, and sometimes makes you very thirsty. It makes you want to drink something caffeinated to make it better, but it only prolongs the problem. Be prepared- withdrawal may take a few days.

 

[Aree Wongwanlee]

I used to drink a lot of coffee. In fact, before, I could not sleep if I don't have a cup of coffee first. Lately, I have switched to drinking a chocolate-based beverage called Milo. I find that I did not miss my coffee at all. So, probably, my previous connection to coffee is just all in my mind.

 

[pwarbi]

For a number of years now I have been a big coffee lover and recently also drink energy drinks such as Red Bull and Monster but I wouldn't say that they affect me that much. While there's no doubt that caffeine and the energy drinks do give you a boost, I haven't actually found that by drinking them they have made me lose sleep or have contributed to me struggling to sleep, but I think that all depends on the actual person and how their body reacts.

 

[janemariesayed]

I'm a coffee drinker and although I like to drink it hot, milky and medium sweet in the mornings, I like to mix it up for fancy drinks later on in the day. I've made smoothies with coffee, banana's, peanut butter and milk. All whizzed up together is really lush. It's nice to drink it over ice on a hot day, or even decaffeinated later on in the evening. Of course, it is nice with a little tot of whiskey or rum added, and I much prefer it to energy drinks.

 

[Prisaneify]

I, for the life of me, cannot seem to get on board the coffee train. Sometimes the baristas get my order messed up and I get a taste but each time, without fail, I hate it. I can't get on board with the energy drinks either. I know if I start using them I'll probably get dependent on them. I also don't think I could justify shelling out that much money for stimulants. I'd much rather try and have a go with a ton of Vitamin B12. I do however drink a lot of diet soda . I know it isn't good for me either but it is one of the few treats I allow myself within the day.


Has research been done on this? I'm sure there is a TON of research out there depending on what part of the research you are looking for. I'm sure we could help you find what you are looking for!

 

[CT422]

Caffeine gives me pretty severe panic attacks, so I shy away from it, but I do honestly enjoy the taste. I love the "girly" frappuccinos from Starbucks, it makes me kind of sad that I can't drink them anymore. These days I'm more likely to drink herbal tea, which is great because a lot of it not only tastes good, but really helps with my anxiety.

 

[kelden]

I'd avoid energy drinks if I were you and drink your usual cup of coffee instead. You see, those energetic drinks, besides caffeine, these harness a huge lot of sugar content. Thus you will realize these kind of drinks are not healthy a lot. Probably good for a sudden burst of energy, but for nothing else.

 

[Zzyli]

I struggle constantly with finding a balance between the fact that I naturally feel very sedated/tired, and the fact that I can become anxious easily and caffeine and other stimulants enhance this. I tend to have 2-3 cups of tea a day as I really enjoy tea and it's not too strong, but I've learnt that I can only have something which is more heavily caffeinated like cola in the morning if I'm going to have a very busy day. If I have it in the evening, drink too much, or have it on a quiet day, I find it hard to sleep at night and that it can amplify my feelings of anxiety so what would otherwise be a manageable experience becomes distressing. At one point I was drinking quite a lot of cola and occasionally an energy drink, and while it did give me a bit more 'go', the tradeoff of the increased anxiety (plus the extra calorie content from all the softdrink) wasn't really worth it, and I learnt that it wasn't a sustainable practice for my body. My guilty confession is that I really like the taste of energy drinks (especially one called V which tastes a bit like Fruit Tingles), so I'd be really thrilled if a 'non-energy' energy drink came out so that I could enjoy the beverage occasionally without having to worry about the caffeine (only the sugar/artificial sweetener).

I used to drink a lot of coffee. In fact, before, I could not sleep if I don't have a cup of coffee first. Lately, I have switched to drinking a chocolate-based beverage called Milo. I find that I did not miss my coffee at all. So, probably, my previous connection to coffee is just all in my mind.

I find that Milo is very nice to drink and I'll sometimes have a cup in the evening before bed like you. It's quite common here in Australia, although I'm not sure how easy it is to get outside Australia. As well as having it hot, it's nice just mixed in a cup of cold milk, or you can sprinkle some on top of vanilla ice-cream for a bit of extra texture and flavour.

 

[sorrowscall]

I drink a cup of coffee every day during the school year. I tend to not be able to handle things well later on in the day without that first cup. If I have an exam or some other stressful thing to do that day, I'll drink two. I'll also tend to get sodas near work and from school. In addition, I'll drink tea whenever I can. I know it's unhealthy but it keeps me in a very calm state of homeostasis.

 

[x0xLikeMex0x]

Every time I go to school I have at least 2 cups of coffee, sometimes even more. There are some lessons where I would fall asleep otherwise.


And when I feel the need to treat myself I buy coffee from a local coffeeshop chain. My favorite is creamy caramel latte. But when I buy coffee from school or make some at home, I usually drink it with just milk, no sugar.


I can do without coffee, but why deny it to myself when I can have some coffee.

 

[Ippolito]

Nope, I don't drink coffee. I don't know if it's because everyone else seems to be addicted to it and I like being a contrarian, or I just don't like the taste. But I used to drink a lot of Coke. Like, a lot. I had to stop because it was ruining my teeth. Now I drink a couple of cups of green tea a day. It's supposed to be really good for your health, slowing aging down, helping you burn fat faster, making you smarter, etc.

 

[misszerable]

Coffee affects my nerves and I tend to be fidgety whenever I drink a cup so I've been trying to avoid it. I like iced coffee though, and I would sometimes treat myself to a can of iced coffee or make one for myself at home. I like the smell of brewed coffee, too, so yeah, I would sometimes give in to a cup of brewed coffee. My trick is to limit the consumption to one cup a day when I get tempted to drink coffee. I've read that drinking coffee has health benefits but I am not too sure about those claims. I just know that many of these benefits are negated by adding sugar and creamer.

 

[Aree Wongwanlee]

I find that Milo is very nice to drink and I'll sometimes have a cup in the evening before bed like you. It's quite common here in Australia, although I'm not sure how easy it is to get outside Australia. As well as having it hot, it's nice just mixed in a cup of cold milk, or you can sprinkle some on top of vanilla ice-cream for a bit of extra texture and flavour.

Milo is easily available in Malaysia, where I live now. In Thailand, where I used to live, Milo is also easily available. Long ago, when I was a kid, Milo has a very strong competitor called Ovaltine. Nowadays, I hardly see Ovaltine being sold anywhere. Perhaps it has lost the battle to Milo in my part of the world.


I remember having a student who had a very strange way of making a Milo drink. She would fill half the cup with Milo, then add hot water to top up. No milk. No sugar. Just plain Milo. Rather tasty, too, although, for me, that's a rather expensive way of making a Milo drink.

 

[111kg]

I do drink coffee and Coke 0, but what I've found out about soda is that it doesn't have too much of an effect. In fact, I could drink 2 liters of Coke 0 and I would HAVE TO go to sleep or at least to have a quick nap. On the other hand, a good hard coffee will keep me awake for hours. If you don't drink more than you actually need, there won't be any problems.