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Can Caffeine Make You Smarter?

© Gretchen Malik

Our old friends, stress, anxiety and plain old exhaustion contribute to your morning brain fog. And you are probably thinking, a cup of Joe can help to dissipate that fog hanging over you. But have you ever wondered if that morning cup of caffeine has any benefits?

Though there's no solid evidence that caffeinated beverages will help you remember where you last left your car keys, briefcase, or children for that matter. Part of what makes you smart is being able to retrieve information you've learned in the past. However, factors such as stress, anxiety, information overload and plain old exhaustion can contribute to your morning brain clouds, making you feel less than sharp. That's where caffeine comes in.

As a stimulant, caffeine can make you feel more alert. If you're more alert, you're better able to process information, but too much caffeine can create jitteriness, which makes it more difficult to focus and to process information. Bummer, just when you thought you found an easy way to boost your intelligence.

So how do you strike a balance? Getting enough sleep and reducing your stress level can help. Try focusing on the tasks at hand during your workday, allow phone calls, if you can, to roll to voice mail and try not to check your e-mail as often. This is all easier said than done, but I must say it does work. I have gotten myself down to two cups of coffee a day; reducing my intake of Pepsi is another story.

Another health note for coffee drinkers: stick to filters. A new study published suggests that coffee brewed without filters may increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke. Unfiltered coffee contains diterpenes, chemicals known to increase the amount of homocysteine in the bloodstream (homocysteine have long been suspected to increase the risk of heart problems). When you use coffee filters, they remove these diterpenes, thus lowering your risk of homocysteine. So use that boost of intelligence you get from coffee and use your filters. Use your French Press to hold flowers or your coffee filters.

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