Coffee & Me

(sumber: http://www.reallynatural.com)

Saya mengakui bahawa saya memiliki ketagihan (addiction) terhadap kopi. Tabiat meminum kopi bermula ketika berada di universiti terutamanya ketika peperiksaan semakin hampir. Antara sebab utama saya meminum kopi adalah untuk menahan diri dari tidur tetapi lama kelamaan ia menjadi suatu kemestian dalam kehidupan seharian saya. 

Saya pernah cuba untuk berhenti tetapi akibatnya, saya tidak mampu untuk memberikan tumpuan 100% terutamanya apabila melibatkan aktiviti yang memerlukan saya berfikir. Selain itu, "cubaan" tersebut mengakibatkan saya seringkali mengalami masalah cepat mengantuk tidak kira siang ataupun malam serta menjadi kurang bersemangat.

Percaya ataupun tidak, dengan adanya kopi mampu menahan saya dari tidur untuk tempoh 2 - 3 hari tanpa henti. Namun begitu, kesannya adalah, kandungan caffeine di dalam badan saya agak tinggi kerana minum lebih dari 5 cawan kopi sehari. Berikut adalah ulasan beberapa pakar mengenai bahaya kesan kandungan caffeine dalam badan serta perkara yang sewaktu dengannya: -

"Caffeine's immediate effects on your body"

It doesn't take a genius to see that there might be a downside to all of this neuron activity. In fact, uncontrolled neuron firing creates an emergency situation, which triggers the pituitary gland in the brain to secrete ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone). ACTH tells the adrenal glands to pump out stress hormones—the next major side effect of caffeine. 

Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske MS, page 56

Within five minutes after you drink your morning coffee, the caffeine begins to stimulate your central nervous system, triggering the release of stress hormones in your body, causing a stress ("fight or flight" ) response. The stress hormones are useful if you need to prepare yourself to fight or flee a dangerous situation, but if you are simply sitting at your desk you may feel a short charge of alertness, quickly followed by feelings of agitation. Within the next hour or so, after the stress response dissipates, you will probably feel more tired and hungry. At these low-energy times, many people reach for another cup of coffee, or eat a snack that is often high in sugar to "pep up" and stay alert. However, both caffeine and sugar only give you temporary feelings of increased energy, which quickly dissipate. For some people, this cycle of low energy followed by an infusion of caffeine or food continues the entire day -- leaving them feeling exhausted and unable to focus by 3:00 p.m. because they are drained from the ups and downs in energy their body endured throughout the day. 

Active Wellness By Gayle Reichler MS RD CDN, page 12

Caffeine triggers a stress response that involves a surge in adrenal hormones and the classic fight-or-flight "emergency," affecting virtually every cell in the body. 

Caffeine Blues By Stephen Cherniske MS, page 98

Caffeine works by mimicking a hormone that tells the adrenal glands to crank out more adrenaline. The adrenal glands think there is a stressful situation and that they are supposed to be making more adrenal hormone. 

Herbal Defense by Ralph T Golan ND, page 280

I particularly recommend that you avoid caffeine. What caffeine actually does is set off a stress response. It stimulates your adrenal glands to make epinephrine and norepinephrine—the same stress hormones that are produced in response to any stressor. This sets the stress response in motion, causing tense muscles, elevated blood sugar, and increased pulse and respiration. You may feel mentally sharper because your brain is high on adrenaline. It's ready to rumble. One cup of coffee for most people isn't damaging. But as you may recall from our discussion of the three stages of the stress response, if stress hormones remain elevated, the body is thrown into a state of chronic stress. By sipping on coffee, tea, or caffeinated soda all day long, you are forcing your adrenal glands to continue to pump out stress hormones. 

The Memory Solution by Dr Julian Whitaker, page 165

Caffeine and nicotine overstimulate the adrenal glands. When these substances, other stressors, and a generally poor diet are combined, the adrenals can enter into a state of emergency. They become depleted of important vitamins, such as B-complex vitamins and vitamin C. 

Complete Encyclopedia Of Natural Healing by Gary Null PhD, page 233

Watch out for coffee. The caffeine in coffee can upset blood-sugar levels, leaving you fatigued and longing for a quick-pick-me-up snack. Limit coffee to two cups a day. 

Food & Mood By Elizabeth Somer MA RD, page 57

Dalam banyak-banyak jenama kopi di pasaran, saya hanya menyukai 2 jenama sahaja iaitu (no offense kepada jenama lain): -

(sumber: http://www.office-emart.com)

(sumber: http://www.vnemart.com.vn)

Boncafe adalah pilihan utama saya kerana ia selain mampu menahan dari mengantuk, ia juga memberikan tenaga tambahan kepada saya terutamanya apabila melakukan kerja pada waktu malam. Bagi Davidoff pula, rasa kopi tersebut agak "smooth" dan tidak terlalu pekat jika dibandingkan dengan Boncafe. Namun begitu, dari segi ekonomi dan juga keberkesanan, Boncafe memberikan kepuasan yang tersendiri.

Saya tidak pasti bagaimanakah ketagihan ini dapat diatasi tetapi berdasarkan trend semasa, semakin ramai rakyat Malaysia yang meminati kopi. Lihat sahaja jumlah pelanggan StarBucks dan Coffee Bean yang kina bertambah setiap tahun. Bagi yang tidak mengatahui, teh adalah minuman pagi nombor satu di Malaysia dan bukannya kopi. Mungkin ini disebabkan oleh trend yang dibawa oleh penjajah British yang gemarkan teh berbanding kopi. Buktinya kita memiliki ladang teh di Cameron Highlands

(sumber: http://www.kb-backpackers.com.my)

Setakat ini saya masih belum melihat kesan negatifnya tetapi jika ketagihan ini berterusan tidak mustahil membawa kepada penyakit kronik.