A group of researchers from the University of Nevada-Reno discovered that coffee grounds can be used as biodiesel, and quite possibly in the near future, your car fumes will smell like a cup of freshly brewed cappuccino. But that very first cup of coffee that fuels most of us in the morning may not be the best way to start your day. In fact, doctors believe the best time to enjoy your cup of java is mid- to late-morning, between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
We at Bright Side usually look forward to our first cup of coffee in the morning, but the effects it can have on your body when you drink it on an empty stomach can be a true wake-up call.
1. You may feel sleepier.
Coffee is a wake-up drink for many of us, but drinking it as soon as you roll out of bed may have the opposite effect. Caffeine doubles the levels of stress hormones and may lead to problems with sleep, which results in tiredness. If you start your day with a cup of cappuccino with sugar, you might feel sleepy again after a short period of time. This happens because our body produces insulin to offset the sugar, causing your blood glucose levels to drop, which results in a lack of energy and anxiety.
2. Your body may lose essential minerals more quickly.
Having your regular dose of coffee early in the morning can cause you to lose many essential vitamins and minerals. It can sabotage the absorption of iron, magnesium, and B vitamins which are vital to our nervous system. Too much caffeine can also leach calcium from your bones, making them weak and brittle.
3. It may upset your stomach.
While your beloved beverage will help you to wake up in the morning, it may also give you the urge to use the bathroom more often. In fact, some medical experts even recommend drinking coffee as a way to prepare for certain exams. Coffee activates our nervous system, which in turn affects the colon and may cause diarrhea. Many people also like adding milk or cream to their morning cup of java, and because most of us have difficulty digesting lactose, it may cause stomach discomfort as well.
4. It may lead to weight gain.
Although black coffee may help you burn fat, it can also upset your healthy sleep patterns. When you don’t get enough sleep, you tend to feel hungrier and have more cravings for sweet snacks. Many coffee beverages, like popular sweetened blends, are packed with sugar and calories and might cause you to gain extra pounds.
5. It can worsen anxiety.
When you wake up in the morning, your stress hormones levels are usually at their highest. Because caffeine is a stimulant, it gives your body a jittery effect and can even trigger anxiety attacks for some people.
6. It can dry out your skin.
Because coffee makes you use the restroom more often, it dehydrates your body. When you become dehydrated, it’s harder for toxins to exit the body through your skin. This, in turn, dries the skin out and makes it more vulnerable to various problems, like premature wrinkles.
7. It may raise your blood sugar level.
Your morning cup of coffee makes it harder for your cells to regulate blood sugar, which can lead to various diseases. High blood sugar, in turn, can lead to weight gain and even raise your risk of skin infections.
When do you usually drink your first cup of coffee? Have you noticed any of these side effects?
Preview photo credit Shutterstock.com
The Benefits of Solving Puzzles
Puzzles have always captivated the minds of intellectuals, and it’s no wonder why. They come in all shapes and sizes, from simple ones to mind-bogglingly difficult ones. Some puzzles remain unsolved to this day, which adds to the endless fascination for those who love a good challenge.
But puzzles aren’t just for puzzle enthusiasts. They offer incredible benefits for everyone, regardless of their preference. Solving puzzles is like a workout for the mind, keeping it sharp and agile. It trains the brain to approach problems from different angles and encourages creative thinking to find solutions.
The Puzzle that Stumped the Internet
One particular puzzle has taken the internet by storm, leaving many scratching their heads. At first glance, it seems like an ordinary picture of numbers from 1 to 15 neatly arranged. The challenge is to find the error and repost the image. Seems simple enough, right?
But as you search for the error, you realize something strange. The numbers are perfect, with no missing or incorrect ones. You examine them closely, looking for a hidden pattern or sequencing, but find nothing. They are perfectly arranged.
At this point, you start thinking outside the box. Maybe the error lies in the absence of zero? Or perhaps the number sixteen should be included? Or is it something else entirely? You analyze every detail, from the spacing to the shape of the numbers. But the answer continues to elude you.
Then, it hits you. The mistake isn’t in the numbers at all. It’s in the sentence below, asking you to find the ‘mitsake’ instead of the error. Clever, isn’t it? Most people are so focused on the numbers that they completely miss the misspelled word.
The Lesson of the Puzzle
This puzzle teaches us an important lesson – sometimes we need to look at the bigger picture to find the solution. We get so caught up in the details that we miss the obvious. By training our minds to see beyond the surface, we become better problem solvers.
The Far-Reaching Benefits
The benefits of solving puzzles are far-reaching. Research has shown that they improve memory, especially short-term memory. Puzzles challenge our minds to think quickly, enhancing mental processes and strengthening the connections between brain cells.
Moreover, puzzles develop our analytical skills. They require logical and critical thinking, as well as creativity. Just like the puzzle we encountered earlier, they teach us to analyze the whole picture and think outside the box. These skills can be applied to everyday life, helping us solve problems that have no obvious solutions.
In fact, the ability to think analytically is highly valued in the workforce. It sets individuals apart, making them stand out in areas like leadership and management. By cultivating the habit of solving puzzles, we can enhance ourselves with these sought-after skills.
So, the next time you come across a puzzle, take a moment to embrace the challenge. Whether it’s a crossword, Sudoku, or a mind-bending riddle, you’ll be exercising your mind and reaping the countless benefits. Happy puzzling!
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