Coffee. It’s one of the world’s most commonly enjoyed beverages, and the way that millions choose to start their day. 

There are both positive long and short-term benefits that can be realized by adults, regardless of generation. But it’s important that you keep an eye on your intake—or the intake of someone under your care—so that the positives of the popular caffeinated beverage don’t start to become the negatives. Doing so will help you realize your full potential, both today and even decades down the road. 

Reach Your Short-Term Potential 

A cup of coffee is something that many of us look forward to, especially first thing in the morning. 

After a couple of sips you’ll feel more alert, and may notice a boost in your mood or energy levels. This can be a real lifesaver, particularly if you are on-the-clock during long or irregular hours and need a little assistance staying attentive. 

Beyond its physiological effects, many enjoy coffee because of its unique ability to bring people together. If you work directly with individuals, a shared conversation over a couple of cups of coffee has a real way of building or strengthening relationships, and can help someone feel more at ease.  

Reach Your Long-Term Potential 

Coffee can also provide a number of health benefits down the line, which will be of particular interest for those in their golden years. 

Drinking a couple of cups a day has been shown to reduce the risk of certain degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, by up to 65%. Studies have also found that coffee can be an effective and powerful antioxidant, which can help reduce the risk of ailments such as type 2 diabetes, as well as colon and liver cancer. 

Remember, It’s a Delicate Balance 

All this being said, it’s important to know your body—or the body of someone under your care—and make sure that the caffeine and acidity levels are not having negative effects that could negate some of the aforementioned positives. 

Many people develop a dependency on coffee, which means that, over time, many of the initial benefits will require a higher intake to achieve. There are also a number of additional side effects that can come as a result of too much caffeine, such as spikes in blood pressure and heart rate.  

Realize Your Potential—and Help Others Along the Way

Long story short? One or two cups is fine, but eight is too many. 

I’m kidding, sort of. But if you are wondering whether your coffee intake is on the healthy or unhealthy side, try going for a few days without it and see how you feel. You may discover that your body now requires a certain level of caffeine just “operate normally,” and that’s not normal. Also, if you have someone in your care who is a coffee drinker, make sure that you are also monitoring their habits. 

A couple of cups a day can be just fine—helpful, even—but you want to make sure that it doesn’t become an issue. Increased irritability or sleeplessness are some of the first signs that a dependency has taken hold, in which case, you’ll want to take the necessary steps to make sure that nothing stands in the way of reaching your full potential. 

 

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash