Whether it is Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts, coffee seems to be the best friend of the majority of millennials in the twenty-first century. Parents often discourage their children from drinking coffee until high school or college because of its supposed negative effects, such as causing jumpiness, an increase of blood pressure. Being a mild stimulant, coffee is often necessary to help college students get through their days without going insane. However, many common myths about coffee have proven to be false, as a result of several studies that have been completed regarding coffee drinkers versus non-coffee drinkers.
Despite common beliefs among society, coffee does not actually stunt growth. It also does not significantly increase blood pressure. Even if it does cause one to be more jittery than usual, can't that be a positive thing? Personally, I can usually use the extra boost if I have to stay up until 2 A.M. to study for my final exams.
Studies have also shown that coffee enhances workout performance, as it has positive effects on one's concentration. It has been proven to improve an individual's happiness after drinking it. I also know this to be true. If I drink coffee before going for a long distance run, I find myself to have more energy than if I did not drink any coffee.
Not only does being a Cup of Joe lover have short-term effects, but it can also prevent medical conditions that individuals can develop when they are elderly. An article by the Huffington Post discussed a study that showed that drinking coffee helps prevent Parkinson's disease and that drinking it can even assist with movement symptoms for people who already have this disease.
It must be taken into consideration that none of these studies are recommending that one should drink Double Chocolatey-Chip frappuccinos from Starbucks on a daily basis, or pumpkin spice lattes in the fall. Black coffee is supposedly the healthiest, as sugar and carbohydrates in other flavored coffees in excess can lead to Type 2 diabetes. It also should not be interpreted that one should drink ten cups of coffee per day. Doctors typically recommend not having more than three cups of it per day.
The moral of the story is that the next time your parents are telling you to stop wasting your money on coffee (as mine do), remind them that there are worse things to be addicted to. Although having a headache from caffeine withdrawal is probably not the best thing either, it should be noted that coffee can have more positive effects than one would normally imagine.
