How Caffeine Addiction Changed History (ft. Michael Pollan) | WIRED

90% of the world's adults consume some form of caffeine everyday, making it the most widely used psychoactive drug on Earth. Michael Pollan, author of "This Is Your Mind On Plants," explains why. Michael goes into the history of coffee drinking, breaking down its origins and how it benefits humankind.

"For more on caffeine and psychopharmacology, read Michael Pollan's latest book THIS IS YOUR MIND ON PLANTS:


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[markantrobus]

The problem with humans is that we overdo just about everything.

[jwglista]

The fact that coffee has been cited as the biggest source of antioxidants in the US simply highlights how poor the average American diet is, not the fact that coffee is some super food that contains way more antioxidants than normal, healthy whole foods such as fruits and vegetables.

[rynev]

Currently at a month without coffee/caffeine. I sleep better, deeper for long. My emotions are more stable, less stress and anxiety. My energy everyday is more stable with almost no fatigue

[flogertadriza]

Caffeine free since 5 months. This decision saved my life. My anxiety and Panick attacks almost vanished. This video downplays so much the effect of caffeine on sleep. The widely consumption of Caffeine has been proved to have raised mental illnesses correlated directly with sleep. Anxiety is one of the first cases where caffeine is a major culprit.

[mason_mann]

Nobody is talking about how coffee sparks a bowel movement, seconds after taking a sip. Or is it just me..

[trentd]

"Is it really a bad thing to be dependent on a plant that isn't ruining your life". Covers alot of subjects here.

[no-name]

I wouldn’t say that caffeine dependence is a free ride other than sleep; my cardiologist told me to cut caffeine out because it was causing my heart to skip beats.

[StopThatSquirrel]

Had no idea I was only among 10% of adults in not drinking coffee... I recently started working a mentally taxing job for the first time in my life and I've been so confused how people can sit in offices day after day for 8+ hour stretches of time. Until I realized the difference between me and them is that I DON'T drink coffee. The few days I have caffeine I can suddenly get everything done and still have energy to keep going. But my sleep and anxiety are horrible. Personally I'm on the fence whether I'm ready to give into being addicted to this thing for the rest of my life or continue my life being unproductive (or just not a robot) with plenty of sleep, great skin, low anxiety, etc.

[JakeIsTiredd]

Quitting caffiene this last month is the best thing I've done in a long time.

Research shows so many positives of drinking coffee yet I find it much easier to focus, feel healthier and more hydrated, able to sleep earlier and my skin is better than ever now that I've quit.

[mikeydoggy]

I would say it was sugar addiction that changed history. Completely drove the slave trade for over 400 years, and that legacy lives on today.

[ricardo_limassol]

i always watch videos about coffe. they always get me confused. "it's good for u, but it's really bad, trust us... but we don't really know".

[Ryan]

I would say that being addicted is not worth the benefits. I have been addicted for 10 years, and it has hindered my sleep and my ability to focus throughout the day. Yes I’m alert for that first hour or so, but then get a caffeine crash midday so I have to reach for more; which then negatively effects my sleep. The process is then repeated on a daily basis. Quitting this stuff was the BEST decision I have made. I sleep like a baby and am able to mentally and physically function throughout the day. Quitting caffeine is a b*** but once you do, you never want to go back.

[deanmckenzie]

“I don’t need a drunk text. Send me a caffeine text.”
-Chris Fleming

[samknox]

Let's be honest: if you acquire a caffeine habit, you're going to spend a few dollars every day for the rest of your life just to feel the same way you would have felt if you never started.

[lionmenmusic]

no ones talking about the toilets in these coffee houses... must have been chaotic

[NotHPotter]

Ironically, that world is now becoming less habitable for coffee plants.

[EarthwormJim]

One thing to have in mind is that the presenter it talking specifically about coffee, not all coffee drinks. If you start adding milk, sugar, syrup, whipped cream etc. to your drink then you need to be aware of what all the addons are doing to you.

[nyanity]

Bold to claim that coffee was the CAUSE of prosperity. It‘s way more likely and plausible that coffee, being a luxury good, is consumed more when prosperity increases.

[hornedmelonproductions]

It would be interesting to compare this to the history of tea in the East, where it was initially closely tied with Buddhist religious classes. The Japanese tea ceremony, for example, can last up to four hours, and doesn't seem designed to increase productivity (maybe focus, maybe rational thinking). Tea is more popular worldwide than coffee, so it's arguably a more important case study for caffeine use and how it's interacted with other historical events in a different time and place than those discussed in this video.

[The_New_Abnormal_World_Order]

Caffeine is only beneficial when used occasionally. Once you're addicted it only has a detrimental effect on you. Sleep is vital for your overall health and wellbeing; so if you think about it, anything that impacts the quality of your sleep, is obviously bad for you. It puts a strain on your adrenal system too. Not to mention, that every time you consume a caffeinated beverage you are taking in a toxin that your liver has to get rid of, and you are making yourself dehydrated. Think of all the people who suffer with anxiety too, they usually find they feel better if they quit caffeine. So, it really bugs me when people try to perpetuate myths like the idea that drinking coffee every day is good for you.