No chemical substances against stress
Anyone who feels stressed likes to reach for a cup of coffee. Almost every overstressed person has developed a deep addiction to caffeine in everyday life. Even though no one is really aware of this addiction, we do consume caffeine when we wake up or several times a day at the office. Whether in the form of coffee or energy drinks is irrelevant. Think for yourself how many coffees or caffeinated substances you consume every day. A cup of coffee with breakfast? An energy drink during sports? A caffeinated mixed beer drink in the evening on the sofa? That’s how caffeinated substances add up.
At the same time, caffeine often serves as a wake-up call or helps us counteract fatigue at work. So what’s wrong with that?
Caffeine for stress?
It is often claimed that caffeine and especially coffee can be helpful against stress and also prevent chronic stress. Caffeine is said to lower the stress hormone cortisone in the blood. Studies with mice were quoted, which should have worked under caffeine influence substantially less stressed. This may seem clear and understandable at first glance, but it is not that simple.
Chemical substances cause new stress
Contrary to the claims that caffeine and chemical substances reduce the stress factor, there is substantial evidence to refute these statements.
Coffee/caffeine stimulates the adrenal glands to produce adrenaline. Adrenaline is known to drive us, increase our heart rate and make us act quickly in dangerous situations. These dangerous situations and the associated impulse to react and the urge to flee put our bodies under high tension and stress. And this is, of course, counterproductive if you want to counteract stress.
High caffeine intake ensures that our body is constantly on ‘alert’ and preparing for an emergency situation. It is clear that this constant readiness of the body ensures that we may not be stressed in the moment for a short time, but in the long run it harms our body like any addiction.
Caffeine and the persistent state of our body with it have a negative effect and can sometimes lead to chronic fatigue, anxiety and depression. This condition/addiction is called, among other things, ‘caffeinism’.
