As much as we all love going out to coffee shops to hang out, there are still some apprehensions that cross your mind before you place your order. The concerns range from the effects of drinking coffee at a late hour to how drinking too much of it may impact your body. However, these apprehensions come from a lack of knowledge and an array of myths created by tea propagandists (not really, but still). In the world of apprehensive coffee drinkers, these 7 debunked myths might just change your mind.
No, coffee does not dehydrate you.
Unlike the sweltering heat of Pakistani summers, coffee is highly unlikely to result in dehydration. Coffee, in some cases, might have a diuretic effect i.e. you have to go to the loo more often, but in actuality the effect that it has is minute to nearly insignificant. Cold coffee can actually be a good way to make sure you don’t pass out under the blazing sun. So the next time your mom tells you not to drink coffee or you’ll get dehydrated, tell her to read this article.
Coffee also does not result in a stunting of growth.
If you’re an avid coffee drinker this myth probably infuriates you to all extents. It’s an old myth and no one knows where it originated from but it has resulted in coffee being shamed all around the world. Your growth is mostly a product of your genes and the diet that you consume. Caffeine is an innocent by-stander in this equation.
‘Coffee is not bad for your health’ — quite the opposite actually
Coffee is actually known to have quite a few health benefits including giving you a boost of energy during the day, lowering the risk of type 2 diabetes, and reducing the chances of diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Want to read more about the health benefits of caffeine? Click here.
No, coffee does not cause your skin to ‘darken’
This myth is more commonly believed in South Asian cultures and is shared with tea. Not only is this completely untrue but indicative of our post colonial mentality that has us salivating after fairer skin tones. If one myth needs to be put to rest, it’s this, along with our ridiculous obsession with the colour of a persons skin.
Coffee and caffeine actually are not interchangeable terms
Coffee contains caffeine but it is not the same thing. Do not use them interchangeably. Moreover, not every cup of coffee has the same amount of caffeine. It depends on the type of brew the coffee is. If you’re counting your caffeine intake please don’t count it according to the number of cups you drink, rather the type of coffee that you’re having.
Coffee makes you lose sleep…
If you’re drinking coffee at 3 AM in the morning then that’s on you. Normally, coffee gives you an energy boost, if you drink coffee during the day, it is metabolised within 4-7 hours by your body and does not have any insomnia inducing effects. So if you’re not sleeping at night it’s probably because you need to have your coffee earlier on in the day. Don’t drink coffee at ungodly hours please!
Coffee has no nutritional value
A single cup of coffee contains vitamins such as vitamin B2 (11% of the Reference Daily Intake – RDI), vitamin B5 (6% of the RDI) and vitamin B3 (2% of the RDI). These vitamins help the body maintain its energy levels, stimulate the growth of blood cells and improve brain functions. Moreover, coffee also contains Manganese and Potassium (3% of the RDI) which aids in bone growth and reduces inflammation along with water retention. So yes – this myth does not stand.
Coffee needs to be made with boiling water
If you think drinking coffee made with boiling water is better, boy are you wrong. Hot water can actually result in a more bitter tasting brew. The optimum temperature for making coffee is somewhere in the low 90°C range so please let your water rest for a while before adding it to your coffee. Bottomline, the right amount of coffee is not only enjoyable but there is increasing evidence that it may actually be good for you! If you’d like to learn more about how coffee affects your body, click here. ‘9 Health Benefits of Coffee You Probably Didn’t Know’ is part of ProperGaanda’s collaboration with Nescafe Pakistan. To read more from ProperGaanda, click here.