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
Every Day after 21 Year Old Sons Death, Grieving Mom Finds Baby Toys on His Grave
A grieving mother who frequently visits her son’s grave is startled when she begins finding baby toys there and soon uncovers a heartbreaking truth about her son’s hidden life.
“Musician? Are you out of your mind, Leonard?” Kenneth snapped when his son expressed his desire to pursue a career in music.
Leonard, fresh out of high school at 18, was eager to follow his passion. But his parents had different expectations—they wanted him to become a lawyer, a path Leonard had no interest in pursuing.
After taking a gap year to explore his options, Leonard realized his heart was set on music. When he shared his dream with his parents, their response was anything but supportive.
“What’s wrong with wanting to be a musician, Dad?” Leonard protested. “Plenty of people follow their passion and find success. I don’t want a dull office job!”
His father’s reply was firm. “I’ve made myself clear, son. You’re going to become a successful lawyer, just like your grandfather and me.”
“There’s no way, Dad! You can’t force me into a career I don’t want! I’m going to follow my dreams, and that’s final!” Leonard declared.
Leonard’s mother, Lily, tried to mediate. “Your father just wants the best for you. He doesn’t want you chasing an uncertain dream. So many people have big aspirations, but few make it.”
“If he really cares, he should support me!” Leonard retorted.
“Watch your tone, Leonard,” his father warned. “If you want to live here, you’ll listen to us. If not, you’re free to leave.”
“Fine, Dad. I don’t need your support. I’ll make it on my own!” Leonard stormed off to his room, packing his things. That evening, despite Lily’s pleas, he left home vowing never to return.
Three years passed without any contact. Lily tried calling her son, but every call went unanswered. Then, one morning while making breakfast, Lily received a phone call that shattered her world. Leonard had been in a motorcycle accident and died before reaching the hospital.
Lily collapsed in grief, and Kenneth, equally heartbroken, accompanied her to Milwaukee to identify their son’s body. The loss of Leonard drove a wedge deeper between the couple, with Lily blaming Kenneth for pushing their son away.
While Kenneth withdrew into guilt and silence, Lily visited Leonard’s grave daily. One day, she noticed a small teddy bear left at his headstone. At first, she thought it was left by mistake and moved it aside. But when she returned the next day, more toys had appeared.
Puzzled, she asked the cemetery caretaker, but he had no answers. Then, on her next visit, she saw a young woman standing by Leonard’s grave, holding a baby. The woman placed a toy near the grave before turning to leave.
Lily’s curiosity overwhelmed her, and she approached the woman. “Excuse me, do you know my son? Have you been leaving these toys?”
The woman looked startled. “Are you Leonard’s mother? I’m Carrie, his girlfriend. This is Henry, our son.”
Lily was stunned. The child in Carrie’s arms was the spitting image of her late son. Carrie explained how she and Leonard had met after he moved to pursue his music career. They had fallen in love, moved in together, and when Carrie became pregnant, Leonard was overjoyed, even writing a song for his unborn child. Tragically, just as their baby boy was born, Leonard lost his life.
Carrie had been visiting Leonard’s grave and leaving the toys he had bought for their son, unsure of how to approach his parents. She revealed that Leonard had always hoped to reconnect with his family once he found success.
Hearing Carrie’s story, Lily’s heart ached, not just for the son she had lost, but for the family she never knew existed. She couldn’t bear the thought of losing her grandson too, so she invited Carrie and Henry to live with her. Reluctant at first, Carrie eventually agreed.
From that moment, Lily and Kenneth’s lives changed. Kenneth, once so strict, became a doting grandfather to Henry. The joy the little boy brought into their home helped mend the strained relationship between Lily and Kenneth. Together, they supported Carrie in getting Leonard’s song released by a well-known label, and Henry, now five, dreams of following in his father’s musical footsteps, with his grandparents cheering him on.
This story teaches us the devastating effects of anger and impatience. Leonard’s hasty departure and Kenneth’s rigid stance only deepened the divide between them. But it also shows the power of love and acceptance. By opening her heart to Carrie and Henry, Lily not only found healing for herself but also for her family, rebuilding the bond they thought was lost forever.
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