The Rise of Caffeine

There’s a new food trend helping people get that caffeine hit without the coffee, but are South Africans getting on board?

It wasn’t long ago that caffeine had a bad rap, with people associating it with all sorts of negative health impacts. But more recently, studies are showing that caffeine in moderation can have a positive impact on our health. Apart from the obvious energy boost and increased alertness, the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease and the Journal of Food Science note the following health benefits linked to an increase in caffeine intake:

  • A reduction in memory deterioration, Parkinson’s disease and the risk of Alzheimer’s
  • Improved performance when exercising
  • Lower rates of depression
  • A decreased risk of heart disease

While caffeine-rich energy drinks and energy bars aren’t a new trend, those that are health conscious are now looking for more natural alternatives to get their fix. In America and Europe, you can find a host of healthy snack foods and beverages laced with caffeine. Some are aimed at athletes and gym bunnies, from caffeine-infused granola bars to protein snacks. Others are meant to provide a healthy pick-me-up when you hit that afternoon slump at work or while running errands, like sunflower seeds infused with caffeine and ginseng, and caffeinated water.

This trend seems to be on the rise in South Africa. While you won’t see many caffeine snacks readily available at the local supermarket, health shops are selling sugar-free, gluten-free, all natural snacks that pack a caffeine punch, and sports shops are stocking caffeinated water – a zero calorie, preservative free energy drink. Caffeinated water contains 70-120 mg of caffeine per bottle, almost as much as a cup of coffee, but without the coffee taste. So, before you exercise or start a busy work day, you can get a much needed energy boost and kick-start your metabolism. Just be sure you don’t guzzle down too many, as the seemingly harmless taste of plain water could easily lead to an excessive caffeine intake.

While we’re sure we’ll see more of these caffeine-filled snacks hitting our shores soon, they’re in no danger of replacing that morning cup of joe for most South Africans. According to Insight Survey, since 2011 South Africa has seen an increase of 6% annually in the sale of coffee beans, and with hipster coffee joints popping up on every corner, it’s clear that coffee is still a favourite way for us to get our caffeine hit. And if you’re trying to boost your workouts, a recent study by the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at Coventry University suggests that it’s not just the caffeine that’s beneficial to your performance – participants who took caffeine supplements with a cup of decaffeinated coffee showed a marked improvement in performance, hinting that there are other important nutrients in coffee that enhance the effect your caffeine is having.

Sources:

https://drbubbs.com/blog/2016/12/coffee-vs-caffeine-supplements-impacts-on-training-performance

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