Day 336 – Boy Wonder is still not sleeping through the night.
To get us through those rough nights and groggy mornings, IncrediMom and Dad need a power boost. We each have our poisons. I brew a rich, steaming hot,
Somehow, we still end up arguing over who is more tired. So I decided that the most scientific way to end this argument was to compare the amount of caffeine in our drink.
Hey Bex – Winner gets to take a three hour nap!
Water
Before we begin our competition, I want to take a quick moment to preach the importance of hydration.
Since the human body is about 60% water, it needs constant replenishment. If your body is properly hydrated you will feel better and have the energy you need to chase a toddler around the apartment.
Bex and I love our caffeinated drinks but only after slugging down as much water as we can.
Remember the 8×8 rule? “Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day.” That’s easy to remember and easy enough to do. For some people that might be enough and others may need more.
I tend not to think about how much I am drinking because I carry around my 32 oz. (nearly 1 liter) Hydroflask every day. Wherever I travel, I can fill it up and go. Usually, I refill three to four times a day.
No matter how much water we drink, there comes a time every day that we need that boost to get us through. So we turn to the “golden drinks”.
Caffeine Disclaimer:
The FDA considers 400 mg a safe amount of caffeine for adults to consume daily. However, pregnant women should limit themselves to 200 mg a day.
Round One: Caffeine Content By The Numbers
Remember, we are trying to see which of us is more exhausted based on the amount of caffeine in our beverage of choice. Winner gets to take a nice, long, well deserved, nap.
Here is the amount of caffeine in different drinks as published by the Mayo Clinic.
For reference :
1 cup of coffee = 95 mg,
1 cup of tea = 25 mg
1 cup of soda = 24 mg
1 cup of Engery drink = 27 mg
Based on that quick look, Bex just won herself a nap. But I’m just calling this round one. Best two out of three, Bex?
Round Two: Red Bull
One of the original energy drinks, Red Bull was created in Austria more than 31 years ago. Today, it is distributed in more than 171 countries worldwide. It is the top-selling energy drink with 68 billion cans sold to date.
Of course, Bex could care less about any of that. She told me that she doesn’t even drink it for the caffeine. What IncrediMom enjoys most is that frosty beverage, straight out of the fridge, served at a temperature so cold you can feel the chill as it pours down your throat. It sounds like the same satisfaction I get from cracking open a beer on a hot afternoon.
A cold drink always wakes me up and puts me in good mood right? So have I won this round? Not really.
Cold drinks have been known to prevent us from making impulse decisions, like buying a $1,000 robot vacuum on Amazon but the physical sensation of a warm drink encourages emotional warmth, too.
One last thing, our very very scientific study did not look deeply at is the sugar content in a Red Bull. I’m sure if we took that into consideration, I would win the nap in this round.
Round Three: Coffee
Legend has it that 9th-century goat herders noticed their goats appeared to “dance” after eating coffee berries. A local monk then made a coffee berry drink and it kept him awake all night. He spent the rest of his life searching for his next fix. And on that day, the world’s first addict was created.
Today coffee is sold all over the world. Over 2.25 billion cups of coffee are consumed worldwide every day. It represents 75% of all the caffeine consumed in the United States.
There are also many health benefits to coffee. Besides being the number one source of antioxidants for the average American, (Sorry fruits and veggies. You were a close second.) there is evidence that coffee drinkers are more intelligent, handsome, and generous people. Did I mention coffee drinkers are creative thinkers too? Joking aside, those who drink coffee have less probability of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, cancer, and diabetes.
Winner: Bex and the Bull
I guess you really are more tired than I am Bex. Can I offer you a cup of coffee?
As we’ve learned, not only does coffee boost my energy, it’s also good for me!? That makes a three-round K.O.
Boy Wonder and I will be at the park. Enjoy your nap Honey.