Caffeine Boosts Catnap
Flooding your system with caffeine before you go to sleep may sound like a ridiculous idea. It's a no-brainer that caffeine is the most widely used stimulant. So, it just doesn't sound logical that coffee goes hand in hand with sleep. It challenges the conventional wisdom that coffee before bedtime can lead to insomnia, but latest research never fails to amaze us, revealing surprising facts. A Japanese study reveals that caffeine and nap are in fact perfect when taken with each other to boosts alertness and performance.
@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan
If you are accustomed to taking short periods of nap to recharge, this new discovery will work wonders for you. In the study, participants were divided into two groups. One group consumed 200 mg of caffeine (which is roughly 1 to 2 cups of coffee) before taking a 20 minute nap. The second group, only took a 20 minute quick nap. Afterward, both groups were given a computer test to gauge how well they could perform.
It turns out that the group who took "coffee nap" were better in their performance. They were also more alert and feel less tired compared to the other group who only took a nap.
How does caffeine work to boost your nap?
This research sheds light as to why there are people who claim that they sleep better after ingesting coffee. There's an actual science behind this.
As we go about our day, the chemical adenosine accumulates, consequently we get fatigue and feel tired. Sleep is crucial to reset the body as it brings down adenosine level. Caffeine is an adenosine blocking substance so it synergizes sleep's adenosine clearing action. That's why you feel more rested and energized after taking a "coffee nap".
Coffee power:
Catnap vs. nighttime slumber
Catnap--the brief period of sleep you take to re-energize your body and mind. You can give it a boost with caffeine. But, in terms of a full night's sleep, it's a totally different case.
Challenging "coffee nap", let us take a peak into coffee's reputation as a bedtime beverage. Here's a study performed by researchers at the Michigan’s Henry Ford Hospital’s Sleep Disorders & Research Center and Wayne State College of Medicine which reveals that drinking coffee within 6 hours before bedtime can significantly reduce the amount and quality of sleep of an individual.
Basically, ingesting caffeine immediately before sleeping and even 6 hours before bedtime can prevent you from having a sound sleep. It will wake you up in the middle of the night and prevent you from getting back to sleep. If you're not getting enough sleep during the night, it's effect will show up on the next day.
That's why they claim that drinking coffee in the afternoon is disruptive to a good night's sleep. If you are insomniac, it really is a bad idea to load caffeine into your circulation.
In conclusion:
This research claims that drinking coffee right away and even up to 6 hours before going to bed can ruin your sleep. Caffeine is a potent stimulant but it's performance boosting effect seems short lived because at the end of the day, you won't be needing it's exhilarating effect. What you'll need is an interrupted 8 hours of nighttime sleep to re-energize you as a preparation for the next day. So with these in mind, enjoy your cup of coffee mindfully.
Do you need a quick re-energizer in the middle of your burned-out day? Then, take a "coffee nap". If you don't want to compromise your nighttime sleep, put into consideration the time of the day you drink coffee. Caffeine could be your ally or enemy depending on when you drink and how much you ingest.
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| "Coffee napping" boosts alertness and performance. |
@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan
If you are accustomed to taking short periods of nap to recharge, this new discovery will work wonders for you. In the study, participants were divided into two groups. One group consumed 200 mg of caffeine (which is roughly 1 to 2 cups of coffee) before taking a 20 minute nap. The second group, only took a 20 minute quick nap. Afterward, both groups were given a computer test to gauge how well they could perform.
It turns out that the group who took "coffee nap" were better in their performance. They were also more alert and feel less tired compared to the other group who only took a nap.
How does caffeine work to boost your nap?
This research sheds light as to why there are people who claim that they sleep better after ingesting coffee. There's an actual science behind this.
As we go about our day, the chemical adenosine accumulates, consequently we get fatigue and feel tired. Sleep is crucial to reset the body as it brings down adenosine level. Caffeine is an adenosine blocking substance so it synergizes sleep's adenosine clearing action. That's why you feel more rested and energized after taking a "coffee nap".
Coffee power:
Catnap vs. nighttime slumber
Catnap--the brief period of sleep you take to re-energize your body and mind. You can give it a boost with caffeine. But, in terms of a full night's sleep, it's a totally different case.
Challenging "coffee nap", let us take a peak into coffee's reputation as a bedtime beverage. Here's a study performed by researchers at the Michigan’s Henry Ford Hospital’s Sleep Disorders & Research Center and Wayne State College of Medicine which reveals that drinking coffee within 6 hours before bedtime can significantly reduce the amount and quality of sleep of an individual.
Basically, ingesting caffeine immediately before sleeping and even 6 hours before bedtime can prevent you from having a sound sleep. It will wake you up in the middle of the night and prevent you from getting back to sleep. If you're not getting enough sleep during the night, it's effect will show up on the next day.
That's why they claim that drinking coffee in the afternoon is disruptive to a good night's sleep. If you are insomniac, it really is a bad idea to load caffeine into your circulation.
In conclusion:
This research claims that drinking coffee right away and even up to 6 hours before going to bed can ruin your sleep. Caffeine is a potent stimulant but it's performance boosting effect seems short lived because at the end of the day, you won't be needing it's exhilarating effect. What you'll need is an interrupted 8 hours of nighttime sleep to re-energize you as a preparation for the next day. So with these in mind, enjoy your cup of coffee mindfully.
Do you need a quick re-energizer in the middle of your burned-out day? Then, take a "coffee nap". If you don't want to compromise your nighttime sleep, put into consideration the time of the day you drink coffee. Caffeine could be your ally or enemy depending on when you drink and how much you ingest.
