September 27th, 2011
Coffee, Cognition, Repair
The link between caffeine and cognition is much stronger than most people have already imagined. Although the die-hard coffee drinker and the committed espresso connoisseur have already decided for themselves that the connection is absolutely there, science is offering up enough evidence to agree. It’s not simply that the waking up effects of coffee have an obvious benefit when it comes to learning, but that there are more complicated chemistries at work. The connection isn’t with simple mental functioning, either, but has a positive effect abilities to perform physical tasks, such as exercise and auto repair .
For most of the conversation that takes place around the benefits of coffee or caffeine, the connection is usually drawn to college students, 
and the idea of staying up late in order to complete tasks and retain information at the last minute. For many people, in fact, caffeine use in connection to school age testing is the extent of their experience with coffee, and they become, or return to the habit of soda drinking. Although it’s not clear why some people take a liking to the beverage and others simply can never get over the bitterness, the ones who like it not only feel blessed, but they could very well be at a better health risk than those who find their caffeine in other forms. Even for those coffee drinkers whose intake is at what some might perceive as a rather alarming level, the benefits are palpable. In some recent studies, in fact, it is these extreme coffee fanatics who seem to have an edge over the rest of the population in terms of fighting certain kinds of illnesses. It seems there are antioxidants that only benefit the human body when consumed in larger doses.
Most doctors would very likely be a little more than cautious about advising their patients to drink more than six cups a day, however, as the negative benefits are also palpable. Sleeplessness and irritability are at the top of that list. But for those who are willing to learn and understand the risks, it is still one of the most accessible, and socially acceptable stimulants available. There is an increased sharpness of thought that coffee drinkers claim to get, and this doesn’t just come with the first cup in the morning. So, studying late at night might in fact be made a little easier with coffee, but that’s also true for other activities. A little automotive repair in the middle of the day can be augmented with a mid-day coffee break. If there is any doubt to whether there really are benefits for everyone, the idea of a well-deserved break is obvious, and very hard to argue with.
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