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The Caffeine Effect

Published by Robert Thomson | January 30th 2009 | Views:

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Western culture presents a unique view on caffeine. Even though the substance is a drug, there are no stigmas associated with its use. In fact, some actually think caffeine consumption is a mark of the elite. This is especially the case in the U.S. where Starbucks, Cosi and other coffee houses have become the main hotspots for business professionals, writers and other intellectuals.

However, despite their intellectual appeal, American coffee houses are still affected by consumerism and gluttony. Why? Well, not only are the beverages laden down with excess sugar, but they can also be ordered in massive 20-oz containers.

To understand how much coffee that is, think about a 2-liter bottle of soda, (which is quite large). One 20-oz Starbucks coffee would fill almost half of this container. And two servings at this size actually surpasses the containers volume. That is A LOT of coffee, especially considering that you only need 8 ounces to do the job.

British coffee culture is not much better, especially as Starbucks gains international appeal. As a result, many of Britains local coffee houses use large sizes to compete with the chain. Consider Cafe Nero which only offers grande for many of its beverages. You do not even have the option of purchasing a smaller size.

Of course, there are those that feel you do not have to buy large amounts of coffee just because it is there. And, as long as coffee consumption is limited to onceddiction.

Now, in small amounts, coffee is actually beneficial, as it releases adrenaline and dopamine, chemicals that increase alertness while making a person feel good. Coffee has also been shown to reduce headaches, a common problem when employees are staring at computer screens all day.

Coffee may also reduce the chance that a person gets Alzheimers, since it prevents cholesterol from damaging ones brain cells. Such an effect could preserve the health of older employees, whose circumstances may force them to work despite their age.

Yet, these effects are negated when too much coffee is consumed. The initial alert period would dwindle off faster, making employees more tired and listless toward the end of the day. As they grab more coffee they put themselves at risk of insomnia, which makes the cycle worse.

As far as the Alzheimers connection, any positive effects become negated as the caffeine negatively interferes with a persons heart rhythms. They may even experience hypertension, a condition that could kill faster than Alzheimers.

With that being said, there are positives and negatives to having coffee and hot drink machines in your office. The main positive is obvious; employees will have access to a pick-me-up when needed. However, if they use these pick-me-ups too often, they could risk not only their performance but their health as well.

So, my suggestion is that you provide a hot drink machine while educating people on the dangers of consuming too much coffee. Put up a flyer explaining that consuming over 7 cups of coffee could put them at risk for health problems. Also, emphasize that they do not need to go overboard for a caffeine high. Even 1 cup can do the trick, because caffeine is just that powerful. Drinking anything more just creates a dependency. And if your dependency gets too bad, 7 cups of coffee will not do anything for you. That is why it is best to stick with 1 or 2 in a day, and only when you are feeling tired.


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