Many Indonesians Find It Difficult To Drink Coffee Without Sugar

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – From the Dutch colonial era to modern-day Indonesia, drinking coffee has been a part of everyday life in the country.

Many Indonesians choose coffee as an antidote to tiredness. Often they drink coffee to feel more awake and alert. But what happens if it works the other way?

For some people, coffee tastes better with sugar. According to hellosehat.com, many Indonesians find it difficult to consume coffee without sugar. Coffee turns into a dangerous drink if people add a lot of sugar. Over time it can cause sudden spikes in blood sugar levels and obesity.

Syrup or whipped cream added into any specialty coffee drinks, that’s sugar, too! People should go easy on the added sugar because excessive sugar intake can trigger fatigue.

When people feel tired after drinking coffee, it’s not coffee. It’s the sugar added to it. According to healthline.com, body processes sugar much faster than caffeine. “After the sugar is used up by your body you may experience an energy slump,” it said.

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Besides sugar, caffeine also causes tiredness as it is considered a diuretic. If people tend to urinate more frequently after drinking coffee, this may lead to dehydration. When dehydrated, they will feel more tired.

According to healthline.com, to minimize sleepiness after coffee, people should only drink two to four cups of brewed coffee a day and avoid coffee-based drinks with syrups and whipped cream. “Alternating one cup of coffee with one cup of water may help also,” it said.

Health benefits vs. drawbacks

The useful nutrients in coffee that are beneficial to health include vitamin B-2, vitamin B-3, magnesium, potassium, and antioxidants. At the same time, coffee has potential risks of anxiety and preterm birth, among others.

Drinking coffee regularly can develop mild physical dependence. Coffee though does not threaten people’s physical and social health the way addictive drugs do.

The amount of caffeine in coffee varies, depending on the brand and the type of coffee. An average cup usually contains about 95 milligrams of caffeine.

If you feel drained before drinking a cup of coffee, you might already be addicted to caffeine, which has been shown to cause withdrawal symptoms such as fatigue, drowsiness, and difficulty concentrating.

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The withdrawal symptoms of caffeine systems occur from 12 to 24 hours from the time a person has yet to get caffeine intake. To overcome caffeine addiction, it can be done by drinking more water, drinking an herbal drink or warm lemon water, and exercising.