Caffeine The Good and The Bad
Abstract: Drinking caffeinated beverages adds a stimulant that can be detrimental. It can cause problems like agitation and insomnia and may exacerbate other conditions. Some may need the effects of a stimulant because they have a medical problem, but for2 most, it can cause more problems than its worth. Drink healthful, nutritious fluids, to help keep your body functioning well.
When you take in sodas, coffee, tea or other beverages with caffeine, you are adding a drug to your system. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner and Naturopath I have a group of patients who don’t like taking medication. In fact, I have to go to great lengths with some patients to make sure they take the medications they’re supposed to have. I have pills that dissolve in your mouth, I have medications that are sprinkled over food, I even have injections, for medications that are called anti psychotics, and if the patient doesn’t take it, they’ll end up in the hospital thinking they’re supposed to hurt themselves or someone else. So why are people captivated by Caffeine?
Could it be, because it gives people a rush ? A surge of energy ? The feeling that they can stay awake longer than they should? Yes, yes and yes. Caffeine is a drug. Some people can use it, in moderation, to get that “lift” but sometimes, people abuse it. I have one client, who has a psychiatric problem called, “Bipolar Disorder”. He typically sees me once a month. I can tell in a second when he’s been drinking caffeinated sodas and coffee. I can’t keep up with him because he talks so fast! There are sodas that are loaded with caffeine. The first time my daughter, who was 14 at the time drank one, she was dazed, she got a headache from all the caffeine and she couldn’t fall asleep that night.
So lets look at this logically. If you’re going to take a drug, at least know the risks and benefits of it. When I prescribe medication, I am responsible for teaching my patients about the potential good and the potential harm that may come from it. Well, what is the benefit. Lets say you have trouble waking up in the morning. There is a disorder called narcolepsy. If that’s your problem, I would try a caffeinated drink long before I would want to prescribe a medication, and there are medications, and abused drugs, that help people stay awake.
How about the problems. Well, I’m sure I could fill a book with problems from caffeine, but I do know that it causes my patients to have insomnia, as I already mentioned, it causes some of my patients who have a disorder called mania to “get manic” and it can cause people to just feel edgy. Ever heard of coffee nerves?
So, what do I suggest? I tell you that from my own experience, people do not taste caffeine. I offer coffee to my guests and I sometimes play a little joke and ask, “Would you like caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee?” Guess what, it’s the same coffee and no one ever notices. That’s because the decaffeinating process has become much more sophisticated than the old “Sanka” which tasted like warm dirty water.
As a Naturopath and psychiatric nurse practitioner I will tell you this, drinking fluids, about 8 glasses a day is very important. The best thing to drink is filtered water, but if you’re going to drink a beverage, I strongly suggest fruit juice, or tea, if you have to drink decaffeinated coffee and the worst thing to drink is soda. (See my Blog on Hydration)
When you take in sodas, coffee, tea or other beverages with caffeine, you are adding a drug to your system. As a psychiatric nurse practitioner and Naturopath I have a group of patients who don’t like taking medication. In fact, I have to go to great lengths with some patients to make sure they take the medications they’re supposed to have. I have pills that dissolve in your mouth, I have medications that are sprinkled over food, I even have injections, for medications that are called anti psychotics, and if the patient doesn’t take it, they’ll end up in the hospital thinking they’re supposed to hurt themselves or someone else. So why are people captivated by Caffeine?
Could it be, because it gives people a rush ? A surge of energy ? The feeling that they can stay awake longer than they should? Yes, yes and yes. Caffeine is a drug. Some people can use it, in moderation, to get that “lift” but sometimes, people abuse it. I have one client, who has a psychiatric problem called, “Bipolar Disorder”. He typically sees me once a month. I can tell in a second when he’s been drinking caffeinated sodas and coffee. I can’t keep up with him because he talks so fast! There are sodas that are loaded with caffeine. The first time my daughter, who was 14 at the time drank one, she was dazed, she got a headache from all the caffeine and she couldn’t fall asleep that night.
So lets look at this logically. If you’re going to take a drug, at least know the risks and benefits of it. When I prescribe medication, I am responsible for teaching my patients about the potential good and the potential harm that may come from it. Well, what is the benefit. Lets say you have trouble waking up in the morning. There is a disorder called narcolepsy. If that’s your problem, I would try a caffeinated drink long before I would want to prescribe a medication, and there are medications, and abused drugs, that help people stay awake.
How about the problems. Well, I’m sure I could fill a book with problems from caffeine, but I do know that it causes my patients to have insomnia, as I already mentioned, it causes some of my patients who have a disorder called mania to “get manic” and it can cause people to just feel edgy. Ever heard of coffee nerves?
So, what do I suggest? I tell you that from my own experience, people do not taste caffeine. I offer coffee to my guests and I sometimes play a little joke and ask, “Would you like caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee?” Guess what, it’s the same coffee and no one ever notices. That’s because the decaffeinating process has become much more sophisticated than the old “Sanka” which tasted like warm dirty water.
As a Naturopath and psychiatric nurse practitioner I will tell you this, drinking fluids, about 8 glasses a day is very important. The best thing to drink is filtered water, but if you’re going to drink a beverage, I strongly suggest fruit juice, or tea, if you have to drink decaffeinated coffee and the worst thing to drink is soda. (See my Blog on Hydration)
posted by Eric Malz at 3:45 AM
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