While there has been much discussion regarding the upped intake of alcohol during lockdown, there’s another beverage that has also been getting some extra attention during these times: coffee.
Sales of caffeinated drinks have soared during lockdown, with an extra £24m being spent on tea and coffee from grocery shops in the UK during June, according to consumer insight company Kantar. It is pretty easy to understand why: we are all looking for a dose of energy to beat lockdown fatigue, as well as searching for comfort and warmth to help get us through the day.
You may also like
Dalgona coffee: how to make the whipped coffee that’s all over Instagram
Let’s be honest though, coffee gets a bad rap, particularly for anyone who’s foundpouring the third mug of the day before 10AM (myself included). But what is it about coffee that we are all worried about?
“There is not a specific ingredient in coffee that is bad for us per se,” explains nutritionist Emilia Thompson PhD.“Rather, it’s vastly exceeding the amount of caffeine which we are used to that may cause some short-term disturbances.”
These can range from increased blood pressure to anxiety, Emilia explains, “but this tends to be in those already exhibiting anxiety or in those non-habituated to caffeine.” In already-regular coffee drinkers, these negative effects are usually only found in very high doses (more than 500mg, or five cups of coffee). “Up to two cups, which is, of course, a more realistic amount for consumption, appears to have no relevant effect,” Emilia says.
In fact, coffee has been associated with a reduction in type 2 diabetes (due to the polyphenols, an anti-oxidant, it contains) as well as Alzheimer’s, and heart disease. However, before you reach for that second (or third or fourth) mug, how much is too much? According to the European Food Standards Agency (EFSA) we shouldn’t be having more than 400mg of that a day, which equates to roughly four cups of coffee.
But what impacts one person is a drop in the ocean to another, so it’s best to account for your individual needs. 3-5mg/kg body weight is a rough dose and works out at around 200-350mg (or two-three cups of coffee a day for a 70kg person), according to the EFSA. And remember that if you’re a habitual tea drinker or you drink other caffeinated beverages like energy drinks you’ll need to reduce the coffee intake to account for that.
It’s also important to note that while a recent study by Reykjavik University was widely reported on for suggesting that pregnant women should avoid all caffeine, the NHS say consuming 200mg or less a day should not pose any significant risk to the mother or baby.
You may also like
The best and worst foods to eat to support a healthy sleeping pattern
If you are going to pour yourself a big mug, Emilia advises that you introduce and increase it in small increments so as to not give your body a shocking dose of caffeine. And, “morning time is best,” says Emilia. “Ideally, avoid having caffeine within 10 hours of your usual bedtime.” Studies show that single doses of 100 mg of caffeine (about one cup of coffee) may increase sleep latency and reduce sleep duration in some people, particularly when consumed close to bedtime.
But, let’s not forget that an energy boost isn’t always bad: “Having coffee before working out can help delay fatigue and support exercise intensity,” Emilia says, making it the perfect pre-workout drink.
So, while it can “support both cognitive and physical performance, and it tastes delicious,” Emilia reminds us that there can be too much of a good thing. “Should you feel any negative impacts of coffee personally, for example, disturbed sleep or increased anxiety, then try reducing your caffeine intake. There is no gold-standard test for this, it is somewhat subjective.”
There’s no shame in simply loving a steaming flat white. But if you are feeling so tired that you have to have to turn to caffeine regularly, it’s best to speak with a doctor about what your body is trying to tell you, rather than masking it with coffee.
Follow @StrongWomenUK on Instagram for the latest workouts, delicious recipes and motivation from your favourite fitness experts.
Images: Getty
Source: Read Full Article