Coffee is the most popular drink that contains caffeine. It is a favorite morning drink for many, but maybe no one really knows how it started.
According to the National Coffee Association, a goat herder named Kaldi first discovered coffee beans and their energizing effects in the ancient forests of the Ethiopian plateau. The coffee trade began on the Arabian Peninsula, where people cultivated a solid coffee for the first time. By the 17th century, coffee reached Europe, spreading across the continent and by the 18th century, it had been introduced to the Americans. In the 20th and 21st centuries, coffee culture grew rapidly in the U.S. About 90% of adults consume caffeine everyday.
While coffee has centuries of history, energy drinks are a much newer phenomenon. According to the National Center for Complementary, energy drinks are promoted as products that increase energy, mental alertness and physical performance. They are the most popular dietary supplement after multivitamins among American teens and young adults.
Every morning starts the same way. The alarm goes off, the phone gets checked and the search for energy begins. For some, it’s the comforting smell of fresh coffee. For others, it’s the sharp hiss of an energy drink opening. I start my day with a cup of coffee. It helps me wake up and feel ready for the day and the smell and warmth make morning feel calmer and more enjoyable.
We enjoy coffee or energy drinks without realizing how much these favorites can affect our health. Too much coffee can cause nervousness and sleeping troubles. While energy drinks often contain high amounts of caffeine and sugar which can lead to headaches, sudden energy crashes, fast heartbeat and dehydration.
According to BDMS Wellness Clinic, coffee is a popular drink that has been consumed extensively around the world. Global statistics shows that a person drinks an average of 42.6 liters of coffee per year. Iced coffees are often high in calories. Although coffee beans contain various substances that help against obesity and diabetes, drinking coffee loaded with sugar and creamer will worsen your weight problem and affect the quality of sleep.
According to the National Library of Medicine, the rise of the energy drink market, particularly within the younger demographic, has caused a 70% escalation in caffeine ingestion among caffeine-consuming children and adolescents from 1977 to 2009.
Matcha.com states that the main three reasons for the popularity of coffee are the body quickly absorbs caffeine from coffee, it immediately hits the human brain and produces the alert feeling people crave. Coffee is available virtually everywhere, anytime, anyway you want it. Coffee has a richer history and culture, once people started to drink coffee everyday and got addicted.
Although coffee and energy drinks can give temporary boost, they can affect health if overused. A morning cup of coffee, occasional energy drinks, plenty of water, healthy meals and good sleep help keep energy steady without the negative effects of too much caffeine. I’ve learned that finding this balance keeps me alert and ready for the day without crashes.
Edited by Anushma Dahal and Bidhya Sapkota
