This is an elementary question I know but for trivial purposes I wanted to ask. There's a lot of debate.
It kills pain, dilates your blood vessels and makes you feel good but some would say its bad for your heart. Your opinion on whether or not its good or bad for you?
I would lean more towards it being good for you.
Mr. Smartypants
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I'm a caffeine addict, I admit it. So I'm maybe not the best person to answer this question. 8^)
Every so often I read that someone's discovered caffeine is bad for you. Within a couple of days I'll see a new article saying the previous article was wrong. Some scientist will inject a rat with more caffeine than you could drink in two years and then note that the rat is 'disorientated' and his little heart is racing. But in quantities people actually consume, the stuff is harmless.
I'm getting to an age where I have trouble staying awake all day! I have a big mug of coffee to get me started in the morning, and if I miss it I get a headache around 10:00 and nothing will make it go away except coffee. That's the famous 'caffeine headache' and it is actually a symptom of withdrawal! So yeah, the stuff is addicting.
Then if it's a long day, if I'm out-and-about running errands or shopping, I'll start to drag. I'll stop at a Starbucks or maybe have a '5 Hr Energy' and it not only clears my mind but it's a mood enhancer!
I've been using it for decades now and it hasn't done me any harm. I don't drink 12 cups a day. I never get 'jitters' or have trouble sleeping or anything like that.
BTW it doesn't kill pain, but if you take ibuprofen or aspirin with a cup of coffee it gets the drug into your system faster. If I drink alcohol in the evening, I sometimes (rarely) get a mild hangover in the morning. One ibuprofen tablet (200 mg) with my morning coffee fixes me right up!
aki
based on most studies, caffeine is good for you, the pros outweigh the cons. but your intake must be moderate cuz you CAN overdose and die from too much caffeine.
Lorraine
I can testify that it can increase anxiety--I had to quit drinking it at one point in my life. But it doesn't stunt your growth--I'm 5'8" and have been drinking it since I was 8. Here are some myths and facts about caffeine.
http://www.webmd.com/diet/caffeine-myths-and-facts#1
QueenK
Bad.