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.

However, drinking coffee is not always bad. Coffee also offers healthy perks. Here’s what you need to know.

1. You should not drink coffee after 2:00 pm
Drinking coffee in the afternoon or evening can affect the quality of sleep. Alternatively, choose decaffeinated coffee.

2. Avoid sugary coffee
Coffee contains useful nutrients that can be beneficial for health. However, it can be harmful when drinking coffee with too much sugar in it. A high amount of fructose can cause serious diseases such as diabetes and obesity.

3. Choose organic coffee
Coffee quality varies, depending on how it is processed and how coffee beans are grown. The use of synthetic pesticides and other chemicals can be harmful to humans. Choose coffee that is free from pesticides.

4. Limit your coffee intake
Excessive caffeine intake may cause some side effects. People should drink between four and six cups of coffee per day.

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5. Add some cinnamon
Cinnamon can lower blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides. Don’t put too much though as cinnamon may cause adverse side effects.

6. Avoid low-fat and artificial creamers
Low-fat creamer tends to be highly processed and may contain questionable ingredients. It is better to use cow’s milk that contains vitamin K, which can be beneficial for bone health.

7. Add some cocoa to your coffee
Cocoa not only makes your coffee taste better but it also contains antioxidants that can reduce the risk of heart diseases.

8. Use a paper filter when brewing coffee
Brewed coffee contains cafestol that can raise cholesterol levels in the blood. Using a paper filter can effectively lower the amount of cafestol.

The best time to drink coffee

Drinking coffee should follow a circadian rhythm. This is a 24-hour cycle that regulates sleeping time and eating time, and control cortisol (stress hormone). Everyone has their circadian rhythm.

Cortisol enables energy reserves to convert into glucose. Thus, it increases alertness or concentration. However, when there is no cortisol, people will feel drowsy and find it difficult to concentrate.

According to Inc.com, Neuroscientist Steven L. Miller, a postdoctoral research fellow at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, said that drinking coffee when the body is releasing cortisol can multiply stress.

The best time to drink coffee is when cortisol levels are low as it will smooth out your mood and energy level. For the average person who rises around 6:00 am, the best time to drink caffeinated coffee is between 9:30 am and 11:30 am. Meanwhile, cortisol levels peak at 8:00 am to 9:00 am, noon to 1:00 pm, and 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

As Indonesia is blessed with so many options of the rich taste of coffee and drinking coffee has become a part of a tradition, coffee lovers in the country should have a better understanding of the healthiest way to drink coffee.

Source: Kompas.com