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
I Found My Daughter Sleeping Under the Stairs—Her Chilling Confession Left Me Shaken
In-laws are supposed to make life easier, right? Well, not in my case. This is the story of how I got back at Linda, who thought she could treat my eldest daughter, Tessa, badly and get away with it.
I have two daughters. Tessa, who is 10, is from my first marriage. She’s sweet, quiet, and always tries to make everyone happy. My younger daughter, Sadie, is 4, from my marriage to Grant, my current husband. Sadie is the opposite—full of energy and always asking questions. Grant loves both girls, but his mother, Linda, feels differently, especially toward Tessa.
Linda is the type of person who wants everything to appear perfect on the outside. But underneath, she’s judgmental and cold, particularly when it comes to Tessa. The reason? Tessa isn’t Grant’s biological daughter.
For years, I tried to keep the peace. Grant would say, “She’s just old-fashioned,” but it was clear Linda’s behavior wasn’t fair to Tessa.
“She’ll come around,” Grant would say. But Linda never did. Instead, she made small, hurtful comments toward Tessa.
Tessa, bless her, never complained. She stayed quiet, probably thinking it was her fault. But I noticed everything. I heard the comments, and each time, it made me angry.
Grant? He didn’t see it the same way. He loved his mom and thought she was just being her usual, quirky self.
I always thought in-laws were supposed to make life easier. But not in my case. This is the story of how I got revenge on Linda, my mother-in-law, who treated my eldest daughter, Tessa, like she didn’t matter.
I have two daughters. Tessa, 10, is from my first marriage. She’s sweet, quiet, and always tries to make people happy. Sadie, 4, is from my marriage to Grant, and she’s full of energy. Grant loves both girls, but his mother, Linda, acts differently, especially toward Tessa.
Linda often made rude comments about Tessa. Sometimes, she’d say things like, “Oh, Tessa, that dress is a bit too grown-up for you, don’t you think?” She would forget Tessa’s birthday but spoil Sadie with gifts.
Things got worse after my own mother passed away. I was crushed by grief, barely able to function. We had to travel out of state for the funeral, and Linda offered to watch the girls. I didn’t want to leave Tessa with her, knowing how uncomfortable she’d be, but I had no other choice.
Three days later, we returned home, and the house was eerily quiet. Linda left a note saying she had taken Sadie to the park, but I couldn’t find Tessa. My heart raced as I searched the house. Then, I saw a light coming from the basement. I went downstairs and found Tessa, curled up on the cold floor, sleeping under a blanket, with dried tears on her face.
“Tessa, why are you down here?” I asked, heartbroken. She told me Linda had made her sleep there, saying Sadie was her “real” granddaughter and they needed “special time” together.
I was furious but knew confronting Linda wouldn’t change things. Instead, I decided to get even. Linda’s family reunion was coming up, and it was her pride and joy. I offered to help her organize it, pretending everything was fine. But behind the scenes, I was telling the family how Tessa was treated, especially during the funeral.
At the reunion, I put together a slideshow of family photos. But in the middle of all the happy pictures, I included a clip of Tessa sleeping on the basement floor. The mood shifted immediately. People were shocked, whispering, “Why would she be down there?”
Linda’s perfect image crumbled as the family questioned her. She tried to explain, but it was too late—everyone saw her for who she truly was. I didn’t need to say anything; the photos said it all.
Since that day, Linda hasn’t spoken to me, and honestly, that’s just fine with me. I’ll always protect my daughter, no matter what.
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