Coffee and Your Brain

Coffee’s greatest effects are exerted upon the brain and mind, for coffee is the great, bold awakener. As a caffeinated beverage, coffee stimulates the brain, facilitating cognitive function overall. Coffee stimulates the flow of blood in the brain, and invigorates the mind. It enhances alertness and motivation, facilitates thought formation and concentration, and decreases mental fatigue. Coffee rouses the mental faculties as surely as streaming sunshine and hilarious birdsong awaken the sleeping.

Within a daily dosage range of 300 milligrams of caffeine per day, coffee improves negative moods which occur in the morning upon waking, dispelling the sullen and gloomy clouds which fog the mind upon rising. Coffee, as the most flavorful and potent caffeine-bearing beverage of all, increases general happiness and feelings of pleasure, and increases positive mood overall. Coffee promotes an upbeat positive sense of self, and an overall feeling of well being.

Coffee drinking even appears to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s Disease. Coffee drinkers have between 3 to 6 times lower risk of developing Parkinson’s as compared with non-coffee drinkers.

Can You Consume Too Much?

Yes you can. Side effects of over-consumption include nervousness, insomnia, and tremors. Excessive caffeine consumption can produce overly rapid heartbeat, mental stress, gastric discomfort and anxiety. The human lethal dose of caffeine is equal to approximately 66 five-ounce cups of coffee. Some people do not tolerate caffeine. If caffeine makes you jittery, sweaty, sick or uncomfortable, then it isn’t your drug.

A caffeine user’s guide

  • Brewed coffee(5 ounces) 80 – 175 milligrams –
  • Percolated coffee (5 ounces) 40 – 170 milligrams –
  • Instant coffee (5 ounces) 45 – 70 milligrams –
  • Cappuccino (6 ounces) 60 – 120 milligrams –
  • Hot cocoa (6 ounces) 2 – 8 milligrams –
  • Tea, brewed (7 ounces) 60 milligrams –
  • Iced tea (12 ounces) 70 milligrams –
  • Coca Cola (12 ounces) 45.6 milligrams

The Coffee Tree

The plant from which coffee derives is the coffee an evergreen covered with fragrant white flowers and coffee cherries at the same time. Inside the bright red skin of the coffee cherry is a pair of beans. The beans are what all of coffee is about. The simple coffee bean bears the bracing stimulant caffeine, and also yields a satisfying flavor and aroma.