Coffee has been around since the 15th century. It is bound to have picked up some misconceptions and myths over the centuries. Caffeine is present in coffee and is a naturally occurring substance, which you can find in over 63 different plant species. These can be found in leaves, seeds, or fruits.
If you are someone who consumes coffee regularly and is worried about some of the myths surrounding it, this should help you out. We have outlined some of the myths and truths about coffee.
- Coffee is Addictive:
A lot of people presume that they are addicted to coffee or caffeine. However, that is not entirely true. As per the definitions, experts do not believe that one can be addicted to caffeine. If you are someone who consumes caffeine or coffee regularly and stops its consumption, you might feel experience some drowsiness, headaches, and fatigue. However, these symptoms usually last for a day or two. And can be easily avoided by gradually reducing the intake of coffee.
- Coffee Causes Insomnia:
The presence of caffeine in coffee gives a temporary boost to your energy levels and mood. Consuming too much coffee close to bedtime might cause you to stay awake for a longer duration since that is the intent of caffeine. The effects of caffeine usually start within 15 minutes of consumption and peak out at an hour from consumption. Thus, coffee does not cause insomnia, but caffeine makes us stay awake as its intention is.
- Coffee Helps in Weight Loss:
This myth is a bit easier to understand. Since coffee brings about a boost in energy levels, people assume this can help in losing weight. However, that is not the case. There have been numerous studies and there are no results to prove that drinking coffee can help you lose weight. Drinking coffee in the morning can give you a short dose of energy to stay active.
- Dark Roasted Coffee has More Caffeine:
A popular myth surrounding coffee is that its caffeine content increases with roasting levels. In simple terms, lightly roasted coffee has less caffeine content as compared to darker roasted coffee. It is far from the truth. There is no correlation between roasting methods and levels of caffeine. Rather, roasting impacts the antioxidants present in coffee. Thus, dark roasted coffee has more antioxidants thereby helping your body fight free radicals.
- Coffee Causes Dehydration:
This is one of the myths that could not from further from the truth. It is a common myth that coffee causes dehydration. However, it is a fact that coffee is 98% made up of water. Thus, it only does the reverse of what the myth says. Coffee helps you reach your daily water intake levels. Since humans are 70% composed of water, hydrating yourself only has positive sides.
Consuming coffee in moderate quantities does not have any harm whatsoever. Above are some of the popular myths and them being debunked.