A warm cup of coffee may be the only thing helping you thrive during these cold months of winter, helping you break out of your slumber during long boring hours of work. Unfortunately, a new study has revealed that it may impact your ability to make coherent decisions.
The study published in Behavioural Brain Research looked at the effects of drinking coffee among young soccer players, revealing that it might affect their passing and decision-making skills.
Coffee’s Impact On Decision Making
The results showed that when players had caffeine, they were a bit better at short passes, showing a 1.67% improvement, and long passes showing a 13.48% improvement, but these differences weren't big enough to be certain. Interestingly, their decision-making skills were a little worse, showing a 7.14% decrease, and their passing ability was also lower by 3.49% with caffeine compared to placebo.
The study found that these detrimental effects possibly happen due to long-term consumption of coffee because the findings did not project any major differences when the players had coffee right before a game. This lines up with numerous other past studies, which discovered that small amounts of caffeine didn't mess with the accuracy of making decisions that involve stopping yourself from doing something.
Additionally, the positive effects of coffee consumption discovered during the study were not significant enough to be noticeable or practically important in real soccer games. So, while coffee might have a tiny impact on some soccer skills, it's not a game-changer for everyone.
Also Read: 5 Surprising Benefits of Quitting Coffee For A Month
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Tips To Improve Decision Making
These results go against previous studies that revealed that 100 mg of caffeine could make a real difference in how well your brain works. Some of these earlier findings include improvements in simpler tasks, like how quickly you react with your hands or fingers. The tests that the current study used might explain why its results differ – some tests were simpler, like just reacting quickly, while others were more complicated, like remembering numbers.
So if you find it hard to give up your essential cup of daily coffee, here are a few tips you can follow to naturally enhance your cognitive abilities, and hence, your decision making skills:
- Balanced Nutrition: Ensure a well-balanced diet with a mix of whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, and vegetables.
- Stay Hydrated: Aim for at least 8 cups of water per day to keep your brain functioning optimally.
- Regular Meals: Avoid skipping meals to maintain steady blood sugar levels.
- Incorporate Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Include fish, flaxseeds, and walnuts in your diet. These essential fats support brain health and may enhance cognitive function.
- Limit Processed Foods and Sugar: Reduce the intake of processed foods and excessive sugar, as they can lead to energy spikes followed by crashes, affecting concentration and decision-making abilities.
- Adequate Sleep: Lack of sleep can impair judgment and decision-making. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
- Regular Exercise: Engage in regular physical activity, as it enhances blood flow to the brain and promotes the release of neurotransmitters.
- Stress Management: Practice stress-reducing techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, or yoga.
- Breaks and Movement: Take short breaks throughout the day to stretch and move around. Physical activity, even in small doses, can improve alertness and cognitive function.
It's worth noting that decision-making is a skill, and it might not be as affected by caffeine as how fast you react. In general, it seems like having a bit of caffeine doesn't always have the same impact on memory and higher-level thinking, like making judgments and decisions. So you do not have to quit coffee and other caffeinated drinks entirely, but limiting its consumption is definitely crucial.