The Ugly Truth About Coffee’s Effects On Your Body

Summary

This video script delves into the unexpected effects of coffee on the body, from its impact on digestion and sleep to its influence on anxiety and weight loss. It reveals that coffee's effects extend beyond caffeine, with decaf also causing similar physiological responses. The script uncovers coffee's role in boosting performance, affecting heart rate, and potentially interacting with medications, offering a comprehensive look at coffee's complex relationship with our health.

Takeaways

• ☕ Coffee affects the GI system differently, potentially causing constipation or diarrhea due to the hormone gastrin, not just caffeine.
• 🌙 Caffeine in coffee can disrupt sleep by blocking adenosine receptors, leading to increased alertness and difficulty falling asleep.
• 🕊️ Decaf coffee can also impact sleep due to similar effects on the body's sleep hormones, suggesting other ingredients in coffee may play a role.
• 🏃‍♂️ Caffeine can enhance physical performance, including focus, endurance, strength, and speed, when consumed in moderate doses before workouts.
• 🚫 High caffeine intake can lead to increased anxiety and the likelihood of panic attacks by activating the sympathetic nervous system.
• 🔥 Coffee can aid in weight loss by boosting the metabolic rate and reducing the hunger hormone ghrelin, even decaf coffee can increase satiety through peptide YY.
• 🧊 Coffee can make hands feel cold due to the constriction of blood vessels in the extremities caused by the release of adrenaline and cortisol.
• 💓 Coffee temporarily raises heart rate and blood pressure, but long-term consumption does not seem to cause hypertension for most people.
• 💊 Coffee can interact with medications by affecting their absorption, metabolism, and excretion, potentially increasing toxicity or reducing effectiveness.
• 💦 Coffee is a mild diuretic, which can lead to dehydration if not balanced with the fluid intake, especially with high caffeine consumption.
• 🤢 Coffee can worsen acid reflux by stimulating the release of gastrin, which increases gastric acid secretion due to the bitter taste of coffee.

Q & A

How does coffee affect the gastrointestinal system differently for different people?

Coffee affects the gastrointestinal system in various ways. Some people may experience a sudden urge to go to the bathroom, while for others, it could cause constipation due to the secretion of the hormone gastrin, which promotes digestion.

What is the role of adenosine in the body and how does coffee interfere with it?

Adenosine is a compound that accumulates in the body throughout the day, binding to receptors and promoting a sleepy response. Coffee, with its caffeine content, blocks adenosine receptors, which can make it harder to fall asleep by reducing the feeling of sleepiness.

How can caffeine impact our circadian rhythm and melatonin levels?

Caffeine can impact the circadian rhythm by affecting melatonin production, which can confuse our internal clock and cause a form of jet lag without the travel.

How does coffee consumption potentially increase anxiety levels?

Caffeine activates the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight or flight response. This can lead to a jittery sensation, anxiety, or even increased sweatiness. Overconsumption of caffeine can raise baseline anxiety and the likelihood of panic attacks.

In what ways can coffee impact weight loss efforts?

Black coffee is nearly calorie-free and can increase metabolic rate. Caffeine stimulates adrenaline production, which decreases the level of ghrelin, the hormone that induces hunger. Even decaf coffee can increase peptide YY, a hormone that promotes a feeling of fullness, potentially aiding in weight loss.

Why might coffee make some people's hands feel cold?

Coffee stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline constricts blood vessels, particularly those far from the body's midline like in fingertips, reducing circulation and causing a cold sensation.

How does caffeine function as a performance-enhancing drug?

Caffeine has been shown to improve focus, endurance, strength, and speed when consumed in low to moderate doses 60 to 90 minutes before workouts or competitions. It is so effective that organizations like the NCAA have set limits for caffeine intake in athletes.

What are the temporary effects of coffee on heart rate and blood pressure?

Coffee can temporarily raise heart rate and blood pressure due to the secretion of epinephrine and adrenaline. Interestingly, similar effects are observed with decaf coffee, suggesting other ingredients might be responsible.

How can coffee withdrawal affect individuals who stop consuming it?

Withdrawal symptoms can occur as early as 12 to 24 hours after stopping coffee consumption. Caffeine withdrawal headaches may be due to blood vessels in the brain swelling as they are no longer constricted by caffeine.

Is coffee dehydrating, and if so, under what conditions?

Coffee is a mild diuretic, which can increase fluid excretion. While drinking a full cup of coffee replaces the fluids lost, consuming high amounts of caffeine without sufficient fluid replacement, such as with multiple espresso shots, can lead to dehydration.

How does coffee affect individuals with acid reflux and why?

Coffee can worsen acid reflux by stimulating the release of gastrin, which increases gastric acid secretion. This is triggered by the bitter taste of coffee activating bitter taste receptors, leading the body to produce more acid.

In what ways can coffee interfere with the effectiveness of medications?

Coffee can interfere with medications by affecting their absorption, metabolism, and excretion. It can impact common over-the-counter medications like ketoprofen and ibuprofen, increase blood levels of certain drugs like clozapine and lithium, and disrupt the excretion of minerals and vitamins.

Outlines

00:00

💊 Coffee's Unexpected Health Impacts

This paragraph delves into the lesser-known effects of coffee on our bodies. It discusses how coffee can cause constipation due to the hormone gastrin, contrary to the common belief that it induces diarrhea. The script also explains how coffee's caffeine content can disrupt sleep by blocking adenosine receptors and affecting melatonin levels, leading to potential anxiety and panic attacks. Furthermore, it highlights coffee's role in weight management, with black coffee boosting metabolism and satiety, and its impact on body temperature by causing vasoconstriction in extremities. Lastly, it touches on coffee's performance-enhancing effects and its potential to raise heart rate and blood pressure, even in decaffeinated forms.

05:01

☕️ Coffee and Its Interaction with Medications

The second paragraph focuses on how coffee can interact with medications, affecting their absorption, metabolism, and excretion. It clarifies misconceptions about coffee's acidity and explains that coffee's bitter taste stimulates gastrin release, increasing gastric acid secretion and potentially worsening acid reflux. The paragraph also warns about the impact of coffee on the effectiveness of common medications like ketoprofen, ibuprofen, and paracetamol, and how it can increase the potency of certain drugs, leading to toxicity. Additionally, it mentions the diuretic effects of coffee and its potential to cause dehydration if not consumed in moderation, especially when combined with high caffeine intake.

Keywords

💡Coffee

Coffee is a widely consumed beverage known for its stimulating effects due to caffeine content. In the video, it is discussed as having various unexpected effects on the body, such as its impact on bowel movements, sleep, and metabolism. The script mentions how coffee can cause both constipation and diarrhea, affect sleep by blocking adenosine receptors, and influence weight through its metabolic effects.

💡GI System

The gastrointestinal (GI) system refers to the digestive system that includes the stomach and intestines. The video explains how coffee affects the GI system differently in individuals, potentially causing constipation rather than the commonly associated diarrhea. This is linked to the secretion of the hormone gastrin, which promotes digestion.

💡Adenosine

Adenosine is a neuromodulator that increases in the body throughout the day, promoting sleepiness by binding to its receptors. The video describes how coffee's caffeine content can block adenosine receptors, leading to reduced sleepiness and potentially making it harder to fall asleep, which contrasts its intended stimulating effect.

💡Circadian Rhythm

The circadian rhythm is the body's internal clock that regulates the sleep-wake cycle and is influenced by various factors including melatonin levels. The script points out that caffeine can impact the circadian rhythm by affecting melatonin production, which may lead to a state of confusion similar to jet lag.

💡Caffeine

Caffeine is a central nervous system stimulant found in coffee and other beverages. The video discusses caffeine's various effects, such as causing anxiety, increasing metabolic rate, and affecting sleep. It also mentions that overconsumption of caffeine can lead to increased baseline anxiety and the likelihood of panic attacks.

💡Metabolism

Metabolism refers to the chemical processes in the body that maintain life. The script explains how black coffee can boost metabolic rate and decrease the hormone ghrelin, which reduces hunger, thus potentially aiding in weight loss efforts. This effect is also seen with decaf coffee due to the increase in the satiety hormone peptide YY.

💡Adrenaline

Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is a hormone that prepares the body for a fight-or-flight response. The video mentions that coffee stimulates the adrenal glands to secrete adrenaline, which can cause vasoconstriction in the extremities, leading to cold hands, a side effect of coffee consumption.

💡Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs)

PEDs are substances that improve athletic performance. Caffeine is highlighted in the video as one of the most studied PEDs, with benefits seen in focus, endurance, strength, and speed when consumed in moderate doses prior to workouts or competitions. The NCAA has even set a caffeine limit for athletes to prevent overuse.

💡Epinephrine

Epinephrine, similar to adrenaline, is a hormone that can raise heart rate and blood pressure. The script notes that coffee, including decaf, can temporarily increase heart rate and blood pressure due to the secretion of epinephrine, although long-term consumption does not typically lead to hypertension.

💡Caffeine Withdrawal

Caffeine withdrawal refers to the symptoms experienced when someone who regularly consumes caffeine suddenly stops. The video describes withdrawal symptoms such as headaches, which may be due to blood vessels in the brain swelling as they are no longer constricted by caffeine.

💡Diuretic

A diuretic is a substance that increases urine production. Coffee is described as a mild diuretic in the script, which can lead to dehydration if not consumed in moderation. However, the fluid content in a cup of coffee can replace the fluids lost, mitigating the dehydrating effects unless large amounts of caffeine are consumed.

💡Acid Reflux

Acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), occurs when stomach acid flows back into the esophagus. The video explains that coffee can exacerbate acid reflux by stimulating the release of gastrin, which increases gastric acid secretion, due to the bitter taste of coffee activating bitter taste receptors.

💡Medication Interaction

The video discusses how coffee can interact with medications in three ways: affecting absorption, disrupting metabolism through enzymes, and altering excretion. This can impact the potency and effectiveness of medications, including common over-the-counter drugs like ketoprofen and ibuprofen, as well as prescription medications like clozapine, lithium, and warfarin.

Highlights

Coffee affects the GI systems differently, causing constipation for some and diarrhea for others.

Decaf coffee has similar effects on the GI system as regular coffee, suggesting the hormone gastrin promotes digestion.

Caffeine in coffee can disrupt sleep by blocking adenosine receptors, leading to increased alertness and difficulty falling asleep.

Caffeine impacts the circadian rhythm and melatonin production, potentially causing a form of jet lag.

Caffeine can cause anxiety and activate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to jittery sensations and increased baseline anxiety.

Black coffee can aid in weight loss by increasing metabolic rate and decreasing ghrelin levels, making one feel less hungry.

Decaf coffee also impacts weight due to increased peptide YY levels, promoting a feeling of fullness.

Coffee consumption can cause hands to feel cold due to adrenaline-induced vasoconstriction of peripheral blood vessels.

Caffeine is a proven performance enhancer, improving focus, endurance, strength, and speed when used in moderation.

The NCAA has set a caffeine limit for athletes to prevent overuse and maintain fair competition.

Coffee temporarily raises heart rate and blood pressure, but long-term consumption does not lead to hypertension for most people.

Caffeine withdrawal symptoms can occur as early as 12 to 24 hours after cessation, including headaches due to blood vessel swelling.

Coffee is a mild diuretic, but its diuretic effect is often offset by the fluid intake from the coffee itself.

Coffee can worsen acid reflux by stimulating gastrin release and increasing gastric acid secretion.

Coffee interacts with medications in three ways: affecting absorption, disrupting metabolism, and altering excretion.

Coffee consumption can lead to increased excretion of minerals and water-soluble vitamins, impacting overall health.

Transcripts

- Coffee's one of the most consumed beverages in the world.

Some people drink it daily.

Some people drink it five times a day.

Today, we're going to be talking

about all the effects that it has on your body

that you would not expect.

(indistinct)

I'm a little coffee-hyped.

Most people associate coffee with the sudden urge

to go to the bathroom.

And that is true for some people.

The reality is

that coffee affects our GI systems differently.

And for some, it could actually cause constipation

as opposed to diarrhea.

And we're quick to blame caffeine for the surge to go.

But the reality is we have research showing

that decaf coffee has similar effects,

leading us to believe that it's actually the result

of the secretion of the hormone named gastrin,

which actually promotes digestion.

(slurping sound)

Coffee could absolutely wreck your ability to sleep.

Throughout the day,

your body produces more and more adenosine,

which actually binds to receptors

generating a sleepy response from your body.

The longer that you're awake, the more adenosine,

the more binding, the sleepier you are.

Now coffee comes in with its caffeine content

and starts blocking those adenosine receptors,

thereby making you feel less sleepy,

thereby making it harder to fall asleep.

So its intended effect can actually become

a negative effect.

The caffeine can actually also impact our circadian rhythm

through its effects on melatonin,

which can confuse our internal clock.

It's almost like having a form of jet lag

without any of the fun of travel.

(slurping sound)

I'll have a large coffee

with a double shot of anxiety, please.

You can add all sorts of tasty things to your coffee,

like cream, sugar, or any of this.

Of course, unless you're drinking decaf,

your coffee is also loaded with caffeine.

And while caffeine can be useful in waking you up

and keeping you stimulated,

it can also cause a jittery sensation nearby,

causing you to be anxious or sweaty even.

That's because it activates the fight or flight response

in the body known as the sympathetic nervous system.

Research has even shown that overdoing caffeine

by a small amount can increase baseline anxiety

and the likelihood of panic attacks.

(slurping sound)

Coffee can absolutely impact your weight,

as black coffee is nearly calorie-free

and actually kicks up your metabolic rate.

And in fact, as caffeine stimulates the production

of adrenaline, it also decreases the level of ghrelin,

the hormone that makes you feel hungry

and your stomach growl.

Grehlin, growl.

But this effect holds true even for decaf,

because it has been shown to increase the hormone

peptide YY, which actually makes you feel satiated or full.

And for intermittent fasting fans like myself,

research has shown that having a black cup of coffee

does not break your intermittent fast

and actually keeps the majority

of intermittent fasting benefits there.

This means that black coffee can truly be used

to aid in your weight loss efforts.

Cheat code vibes.

(slurping sound)

Coffee makes your hands feel cold

because coffee stimulates those small glands

that sit on top of your kidneys called the adrenals.

They secrete adrenaline

and a stress hormone known as cortisol.

One of the main effects of adrenaline

is to constrict blood vessels which are not

of utmost importance to your survival.

That means all the small blood vessels furthest away

from the midline of your body, like in your fingertips

and your toes, they start getting vasoconstricted.

They start getting tighter,

which temporarily decreases some of the circulation

to your hand, making them feel cold and look pale.

(slurping sound)

Caffeine is one of the most studied

performance enhancing drugs.

PEDs? Yeah.

Why?

Because it works and has been shown

to have significant benefits

as long as you don't overuse it.

Focus, endurance, strength, speed

have all been tested and found to have been boosted

with low to moderate doses of caffeine

60 to 90 minutes before workouts and competitions.

That this effect is so great,

that the NCAA has actually set a caffeine limit

for its athletes.

They restrict the amount of caffeine in an athlete's system

by limiting concentrations to roughly 500 milligrams

of caffeine or several cups of coffee.

(slurping sound)

It's no surprise that coffee does raise the heart rate

and blood pressure temporarily due

to the secretion of epinephrine, adrenaline.

The interesting part is that the effect has been found

to be true for decaf coffee as well.

So another ingredient could potentially be responsible here.

It's also important to note that long-term consumption

does not seem to cause hypertension.

The thinking is that those who consistently consume coffee

actually build up a protective tolerance to it.

Will say, though, that I have treated individuals

who have gotten their blood pressure under better control

by removing caffeine from their diet entirely.

Just saying.

(slurping sound)

Removing coffee's a double-edged sword

'cause it could cause withdrawal symptoms

as early as 12 to 24 hours.

The thought behind caffeine withdrawal headaches

is that the blood vessels in the brain,

which normally are kept tight and constricted due

to the action of the caffeine,

start to swell and cause pain.

The ironic part of this

is that caffeine is actually found in some common

over-the-counter medications like Excedrin Migraine.

(slurping sound)

Is coffee dehydrating?

This one is fiercely argued on online forums.

Some say yes, some say no.

Here's the truth.

Coffee is a mild diuretic.

It makes you pee more.

It makes you excrete more fluids.

However, if you're drinking a full cup of coffee,

there's fluids in there,

so it replaces the fluids you lose, right?

Yes.

However, if you're drinking little espressos

or espresso shots in your coffee,

and you're getting a ton of caffeine in there,

you're not replacing the loss fluid,

and then in that case, it can be somewhat dehydrated.

That being said, if you're not overdoing it,

it's usually not enough to become a problem.

(slurping sound)

My dear acid reflux sufferers,

coffee can absolutely impact your acid secretion.

First of all, we need to stop

with this acid base obsession that has developed online.

Drinking electrolyte reduced water,

alkaline water is just complete nonsense.

The reason coffee makes acid reflux worse

is much simpler than that.

It is proven to stimulate gastrin release,

which increases gastric acid secretion.

And this happens because of the bitter taste of coffee

that activates a type two

bitter taste receptors in your mouth.

So the bitter taste of coffee

makes your body secrete more acid.

(explosion)

(slurping sound)

Coffee actually messes with your medications

and it interacts with them in one of three ways.

First, it affects the absorption

of the medications and studies have actually shown

that common over-the-counter meds like ketoprofen,

which is very similar to ibuprofen and paracetamol,

which is similar to Tylenol,

are significantly impacted by coffee intake.

The second is through the disruption of the metabolism

of the medications through enzymes.

For example, the blood levels of clozapine, lithium,

warfarin, and several antidepressant drugs

actually were increased after the ingestion of coffee,

making them more potent and potentially increasing toxicity.

And the third, is through the disruption of excretion

of the drugs.

Basically, how long they stick around.

In fact, we've seen increased excretion of minerals

like, calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride,

and even water-soluble vitamins like vitamin B.

Think about that.

You're drinking coffee, you're taking your meds,

and it's all going amuck.

Coffee makes you pee.

Here's the truth about holding your pee.

Check this out now.

It's a must-watch.

As always, stay happy and healthy, but watch this.

There's a ton of great comments and questions in here.

Whoa.

(upbeat music)