If you’re like me, coffee is the language that you speak in the morning. It is more than just a beverage; rather it is a concoction that brings me to live. It is the peanut butter to my jelly, the milk to my cereal, and the creamer to my coffee, but I dare not drink it past a certain time of day… Unless I want to be up late all hours of the night when I am supposed to be sleep. Coffee has its pros and cons, the cons sometimes outweigh the pros, but at the end of the day, it gives me life – and that is what is most important.

Pro: Alerts and boosts your mood. If this wasn’t an obvious observation of the phenomena that is coffee than what are you doing with your life? Scientifically speaking, caffeine imitates adenosine – a molecule that your brain releases to help you wake up – creating a boost in your system which is why it may seem as through you are more alert than before. This also help put you in a better mood…Thank the lord for that because I am definitely not a morning person; don’t talk to me until I’ve had some type of coffee in my system.

Con: It pumps adrenaline into our systems which can lead to irritability. The pituitary gland in our brains reacts with the caffeine and sends adrenaline into our bodies. While adrenaline might come in handy when say you are running for your life, it does not work out to well if you are stuck in an office all day. This leads to your irritability. This is not something that I experience often, so it was interesting to learn about.

Pro: Improves memory. Studies have shown that caffeine is linked to improve certain types of memory. Got a big exam coming up? Drink a cup of joe and study – straightforward information only, though; studies have shown that caffeine help you remember that particular information better. Keep in mind that this is only effective for those who are not already dependent on caffeine.

Con: Stays in your system for about 5 – 6 hours. This is the main reason why I do not consume any type of caffeine after 3 p.m. I will not be able to sleep; I don’t care what science says about it being out of my system. It is a lie and it is still in my system, hence I am unable to sleep… Other than this one teeny detail, science is correct.

Pro: Associated with a longer lifespan. There have been recent studies that link constant coffee drinkers to a longer life. I’ll take another cup, please!

Con: Causes heartburn. Caffeine has been shown to increase the acid levels in your stomach which can lead to you having heartburn. I’m just tryna wake up, man, why you gotta cause so many problems in my life.

There are a few other situations that caffeine seems to cause, although I am not too sure if it falls under the pro or con category. Caffeine is technically a drug; it can curb your appetite for a short period of time; and it can interact with certain medicines to encourage them to work faster. If you’re trying to diet than I supposed drink a few cups of coffee everyday can help – if you don’t mind the ulcers (this was a joke, you should laugh. If you are trying to diet, please do it the healthy way!). As for interacting with certain medicines… If you have a killer headache, caffeine has been proven to increase the rate at which aspirin takes effect, so that’s a good thing, right? But then again, what do I know?

So, caffeine… Friend or foe? I guess it really depends on what time o f day you consume it. That being said, I don’t think you can ever convince me to give up coffee. We have a love-hate relationship, but it works for us, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Find more information at https://www.sciencealert.com/what-caffeine-does-to-your-body-and-brain