Essay Sample on Abstaining From Coffee

Introduction

In the contemporary Western countries, a vast majority of the population is addicted to caffeine. Studies have shown that consumption of coffee which is the largest source of caffeine for this population has both positive and negative effects depending on the frequency and the quantity ingested (In Chu & Institute of Food Technologists, 2012). Studies show that about 80% of the world's population takes caffeinated drinks with coffee and tea being the leading sources. With the increase in demand for coffee in recent years, the Western society has increasingly become conditioned to purchase coffee daily, with some taking more than five cups in a day. As a member of this society, I have found myself trapped in this tendency and vulnerable to the risk of coffee addiction.

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In most academic institutions, consumption of coffee is a common tendency in a manner that it is considered a must have product. As a student, I can attest to this since I before I overcoming coffee addiction, I used to drink not less than two cups of coffee in a day. Starting the day without a cup of coffee would make me dull and not reach my full potential. That made me realize that I was suffering from coffee addiction and I decided to take action to overcome the problem. Even though I was addicted to coffee intake, my performance was significantly higher on coffee days than on no-coffee days. This is consistent with the outcomes of research studies on the effects of caffeine. The research outcomes show that the health effects of caffeine are controversial. Although coffee has antioxidants that are associated with reduced risk of diseases, it also has high levels of caffeine which could cause problems such as disruption of sleep.

Growing up in a heavily westernized family, coffee was the main breakfast drink. Consequently, I got used to it especially during my high school days. In particular, coffee came in handy as I prepared for tests. That was after learning that indeed it contains a stimulant that promotes the production of dopamine which increases concentration and alertness. The increase in the production of dopamine helped me study better and attain better grades. In the beginning, I believed I was the only one who relies on coffee to study only to realize that more than 70% of my classmates relied on coffee to prepare for tests.

The negative effect of addiction notwithstanding, there are other factors that motivated me to drink coffee apart from studying. One of the reasons is that coffee makes a person smarter literally and improves their mood. As noted earlier, I suffered from low moods and low cognitive performance on no-coffee days. This has been confirmed by numerous controlled trials that indicate that caffeine in coffee blocks inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain leading to improved mood, higher memory, alertness, and improved cognitive function (Preedy, 2015). These benefits were the reasons why I continued to drink coffee despite being aware of the risk of addiction. Although they did not apply to me, other reasons and benefits of coffee include boosting metabolism and exercise performance. In addition, caffeine intake reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease. Studies show that coffee drinkers have a 65% lower risk of having Alzheimer's and 60% reduced chances of having Parkinson's disease (Preedy, 2015).

One of the shortcomings of drinking coffee is that its effects on enhancing cognitive performance are short-term. In other words, a person who drinks coffee every day develops a tolerance which reduces the extent of enhanced performance. For an individual who takes coffee to improve mood and cognitive ability, developing tolerance against those effects is perhaps the most disappointing experience as long as caffeine intake is concerned. At this point, addiction and dependency are almost inevitable. While dependency and addiction are closely related, it is important to note that they are different.

Reflecting on my experience before deciding to abstain from coffee, I suffered from both addiction and addiction. Dependency was exhibited by reduced ability or inability to concentrate and accomplish simple or complex cognitive and physical tasks without having to drink a cup of coffee. On the other hand, addiction resulted in withdrawal symptoms when I did not ingest caffeine. Some of the withdrawal symptoms I experienced include sleepiness, irritability, headaches, lack of concentration, and depression. The occurrence of these symptoms has been well documented by In Chu and Institute of Food Technologists (2012). It is important to understand that many of these withdrawal symptoms are not necessarily triggered but happen randomly. However, some like depression, anxiety, and irritability are triggered by challenging situations or attempting to solve complex problems.

Conclusion

Although more than 80% of the world's population takes more than two cups of coffee or tea daily, the vast majority is oblivious of its effects. Even those who understand the effects of caffeine feign ignorance to continue taking coffee. While these people enjoy the short-term benefits of coffee, there are adverse consequences around the corner. Some might argue that the adverse impacts are only experienced after stopping taking coffee and since they do not intend to stop, there is no cause for alarm. In addition, there is the argument that consumption of coffee is a major economic driver that involves several players ranging from farmers to waiters in coffee shops. Based on these arguments, the final decision comes down to personal discretion and life choices. Therefore, I intend to share this document with my family and friends with the sole purpose of education. I do not expect support but I will gladly welcome it in case it is offered. Given that my family and friends are heavy drinkers of coffee, I do not expect much support.

References

In Chu, Y.-F., & Institute of Food Technologists. (2012). Coffee: Emerging health effects and disease prevention. Ames, Iowa : IFT Press, Wiley-Blackwell, A John Wiley & Sons, Ltd

Preedy, V. R. (Ed.). (2014). Coffee in health and disease prevention. Amsterdam : Elsevier/AP