9 Caffeine Myths Debunked

Our relationship with coffee is extensive, complicated, and dynamic.

A brew that we have consumed for many hundreds of years. A foundation for many cultures and economies. A constant point of debate as to its benefits or consequences.

But of course, none of the above compares with the love affair many enjoy every morning. 

Some of us are obsessed, others addicted, and a few brave souls are currently going through withdrawal headaches

At the risk of adding my two cents to a long debate. Here are some myths and lesser-known facts when it comes to caffeine and the humble cup of Joe.

• Coffee Is Not A Drug 

It’s a psychoactive drug according to Micheal Pollan’s book “This Is Your Mind on Plants.” In this latest book, Pollan explores the effects of coffee and caffeine, the history, and even his personal experience of detoxing for 90 days.

Pollan shows that coffee is a powerful psychoactive substance. Caffeine, the active ingredient, stimulates the central nervous system, increasing alertness and energy. 

His 90-day detox was not easy and he explains how dependent we can become on caffeine. The withdrawal symptoms he experienced were not easy and included headaches, brain fog, and fatigue. His book is a total eye-opener urging us to rethink our relationship with coffee and its effects on our health.

• Coffee: The Mind Enhancer

Beyond its kickstart for your day, coffee doubles as a nootropic—boosting brain functions like alertness, concentration, and clarity, or as I like to call it, clearing the cobwebs 🕸️ 

When you sip that morning cup, you’re not just waking up your body; you’re giving your brain a jumpstart. 

Increases blood flow, gets some of that cortisol going and helps us focus on the tasks ahead.

• Boosting Workout Results

Coffee isn’t just for mental jogs but for physical ones too! 

Caffeine ups adrenaline levels, enhancing endurance and strength, which can seriously power up your workouts. 

It can definitely help with that extra push to run the extra mile or lift a bit heavier. 

I call it putting on a fresh pair of wings. With coffee, we feel ‘ready’ and ‘able’ to do the thing and do it well 🦾

• Lifting Spirits

It’s not just about waking up your body but also lifting your mood. 

Drinking coffee has been linked to lower risks of depression. 

Sometimes we just need an initial lift to get us out of the door. 

As they say, the heaviest weight at the gym is the front door handle. Coffee can be very helpful to get our engines revving and ready to move!

Getting one thing done is satisfying, encouraging and motivating. From this space, we can get onto the business of getting stuff done and accomplished

• Pain Management

What I learned writing this article is that coffee can also ease pain. 

This study on pain management explains:

“Caffeine plays an important role in pain modulation through their action on adenosine receptors which are involved in nociception.” 

So, the next time you have a headache or muscle pain, maybe put the kettle on and brew yourself a delicious cup of coffee.

Who knows? It might be the kind of pain relief you’ve needed.

• Linked to Longevity 

More good news; it appears that regular coffee drinking might increase longevity!

Studies suggest it could lower the risk of death from heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers. 

Another study found that long-term coffee consumption shows a strong correlation with reduced risk of type 2 diabetes.

This surprising study on young and middle-aged women found a similar positive impact whether they were drinking caffeinated or decaffeinated coffee consumption. 

• Not Just One Source

Caffeine really is ubiquitous. It can be found in tea, chocolate, energy drinks, and even some meds. 

Keep an eye on your total intake and remember that all these sources contribute to your daily caffeine consumption. 

As you know, when we have too much coffee we can feel jittery, anxious or simply out of place. 

Dosage is everything, even with caffeine.

FACT: Maintaining Magnesium Levels

Here’s a heads-up! 

Coffee may deplete magnesium levels in your body. 

So if you’re drinking more than one cup per day,  seriously consider topping up on your magnesium levels. 

Some studies are concluding that: “coffee can inhibit the absorption of magnesium from the gut.” 

Getting magnesium directly from food sources is also an excellent way of topping up. Foods like  nuts, seeds, and leafy greens.

One of my favourite ways to keep magnesium levels topped up is to swim in the sea.  Absorbing salt water through the skin is very effective. If you’re not close to the sea take regular good quality sea salt bath.

If you don’t have access to a bathtub then  magnesium spray to use on your feet before bed can arguably be life changing!

Thank me later.

FACT: Tolerance is real 

While the initial effects of caffeine on the central nervous system reach a peak level within an hour of consumption, they have the potential to last up to six hours. 

If you notice the initial one-hour pick-me-up being weaker than it once was, then you may have increased your tolerance to caffeine. 

If you notice that you need more coffee today than you did yesterday or last week, to feel the same boosting effect, then tolerance has increased.

I will be bold and say that more than 2 cups per day show the potential for strong tolerance levels and it might be time to reduce the dosage or go on a bit of a Micheal Pollan’s detox.

Final Verdict?

So what’s the verdict? Is coffee good for us? 

As they say: ‘The dose makes the poison’.

When we use caffeine appropriately, it will not use us in return. Sounds simple but not always so easy to implement.

Moving forward, you are now better informed about the impact of caffeine on our lives and can therefore make better choices.

Should one of those choices be to detox from caffeine, then consider making yourself a cup of Mushie Tea with our blend of Mushroom Essentials Complex.

It’s the perfect coffee alternative, with zero caffeine, and only powerful functional mushrooms. Nourishing. Satisfying. Creamy. And Soothing.

And on the days when you feel like you need more air under your wings, then remember to include Cordyceps in your morning routine.

Share your stories and anecdotes with us via social channels like our Facebook group or Discord channel.

As always,

Flow strong.

Asha ✨