Coffee is a really strange thing to drink when you think about it. It's bitter, does all sorts of funky things to your body... and not to mention what it does to insects and other animals! Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts, and all those other coffee shops out there prove that coffee is pretty popular, but that doesn't mean it isn't weird! Read on to find out the 11 weirdest things about coffee.
Coffee Can Paralyze and Kill Insects!
Yep, that stuff you drink every morning isn't only addictive, it kills! Well... insects that is. Caffeine acts as a natural pesticide in plants, which is sort of scary to think about when ingesting the stuff. It can also be toxic to household pets such as cats and dogs, and it can even be lethal to people as well... although you'd have to drink about 50 times the average daily intake. And way before that point you can get hallucinations, acid reflux, and more from it. So... enjoy your morning coffee!
Caffeine Is the World's Most Widely Used Drug
And Americans drink more coffee than anyone else in the world! So unless you're drinking decaf coffee (which still has some caffeine in it), if you're drinking coffee, you're joining the masses in psychoactive drug use. This is actually probably not such a bad thing considering all the other crazy stuff out there. Just remember, it is actually physically addictive, so you still need to be careful about how much you have!
It Makes You Poop!
Yes ladies and gentlemen. Everyone poops. Especially if you're drinking coffee. Although for some it actually constipates you. Yes, it's all very confusing. Basically the stimulant side of coffee is what makes it act as a diuretic, but then it can also dehydrate you which can result in the OPPOSITE effect! "However it works, scientists have verified coffee's biochemical ability to send people to the toilet, just not necessarily for the same reason as each other." So who ? About 29% of the population, actually.
And There's Some That's Made OUT of Poop!
Yup. Southeast Asia's best coffee is literally crap. It's called "Weasel Coffee," but let it be warned... before reading why it's called that, the explanation may make you sick. We're not kidding. Think that's bad? It's not even the only animal poop coffee around! In India they make monkey coffee, and don't even get us started on the other animals' "end products" used in coffees and teas as well! So next time you go for that exotic coffee? You may want to check the ingredients.
Coffee Comes From a Fruit!
Coffee beans are actually fruit seeds! Which makes total sense when thinking about the catchy song "Beans, beans, the musical fruit..." although as we've learned already the effects are slightly different here. So if it's a fruit seed why is it called a bean? Because it looks like one! Simple as that.
There Are Like a Million Ways to Drink It
Allergies to Coffee Do Exist... But Not In the Way You Might Think
It doesn't seem that weird, considering there are food allergies for pretty much everything, but the weird thing about is that most reports actually come from occupational allergies. This means that workers at coffee production plans have reported experiencing symptoms such as nasal allergies and asthma when exposed to the raw (green) coffee beans and roasted coffee dust. So if you're a coffee lover, you may not want to take a factory tour.
It Can Affect Your Risk of Dying
Don't worry... coffee actually affects your risk of dying in a good way! Coffee actually reduces mortality rate and studies have found it potentially reduces the risk of certain cancers as well. So what does this mean for you? Despite some of its less pleasant effects, coffee is good for you in the long run! Hooray!Â
Ice Water Will Tell You if Your Coffee Was Roasted Well
Yep... this is a simple trick that really works! Just put one tablespoon of coffee on top of a glass of ice water. "If your coffee stays on top of the water and does not leach into the water after a few minutes, it's been roasted properly. If it leaches, then it's either over-roasted or under-roasted." This will help you determine if that expensive "high end" coffee you're buying is really worth the price.
Good Ol' Cup O' Joe
So. Some of it is made of poop, some of it makes you poop. You can be allergic to it, but it also helps you live longer. Coffee is strange but can be a very desirable thing. So at least now you know more about the thing you imbibe every morning... and afternoon... and three other times during the day. But hey. There are worse things in life than loving a good ol' cup o' joe.
