Dear Dr. Meinig: Why is it that people get so dependent on coffee? I have been trying to give it up, but find I must be “hooked”, as I can’t quite stop drinking it. Also, I have headaches too often. Can these be caused by coffee? – J.A.
Dear J.A.: The caffeine in coffee is the “pick-me-up” so many depend on to get themselves going. It is a potent drug that for 50% of users is considered addicting. If you can’t believe this is a big problem, the fact that Americans consume 2½ billion pounds of coffee each year should cause concern as the detrimental effects on the health of eight out of ten of our people is staggering.
Much has been written about the various health problems. Headaches are one of the more frequent ones observed. It seems very difficult for coffee drinkers to associate their personal indigestion, ulcers, nervousness, shortness of breath, heart trouble, cancer, and anxiety with their coffee-drinking ritual.
Now new research finds scientists reporting evidence that long term consumption of caffeine causes significant changes in brain tissue. Dr. Solomon H. Snyder of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has discovered that caffeine is very similar to one of the brain’s “messenger” chemicals, called adenosine. Caffeine is a chemical antagonist blocking the normal action of adenosine. This accounts for a number of the effects, such as the caffeine cravings, anxiety, behavioral changes, etc.
Many coffee lovers have recognized some of the caffeine problems and feel secure when they switch to the decaffeinated beverages. They do not realize these still contain 3% caffeine, and that the chemicals used in the processing cause even greater body changes than regular coffee. One of these chemical compounds has also been shown to cause brain changes that result in human behavior problems.
The actual caffeine consumption in this country is estimated at 34 million pounds. Coffee supplies 76% of this total, while tea, cocoa, chocolate, and soft drinks, plus diet pills and other medications contain the additional 24%.
The obvious solution for caffeine users is to switch to water. However, before doing so, one should know that the caffeine, besides its drug action, also raises the blood sugar level. To increase the energy lost when giving up coffee, those who eat little or no breakfast will find it necessary to eat something in order to get going in the morning. Food does this surprisingly well if it is given a chance. In fact, a nourishing breakfast is far more likely to keep the energy flowing until lunch time, without resorting to the habitual coffee break.
