The thought of starting a flight with a hot beverage can be very tempting. That said, you might have to leave coffee off your in-flight shopping list. It turns out that caffeine can have some not-so-great side effects that could make your trip less enjoyable. So, why should you never drink coffee on a flight? Let us investigate.
Dehydration
Coffee is a diuretic which means it causes you to urinate more frequently. While this can actually be a perk of drinking coffee (no need to worry about bladder pressure on long flights), it also means that you expel valuable fluids. At 35,000 feet in the air, your body is already struggling to absorb moisture. The added diuretic effects of caffeine further decrease your chances of staying hydrated. Drinking coffee on a plane can lead to fatigue, headaches, and impaired thinking skills. You don’t want that to be your mid-air experience.
Pressurized Cabins
Coffee is typically purchased from an airport café and brought onboard. That means that the coffee is already cold and probably has gone through a number of temperature fluctuations already. Unfortunately, coffee does not process well in pressurized cabins. Studies have found that it causes changes in the coffee’s taste and smoky aroma. Even if the coffee is stored in a thermos, it can still taste strange due to the air pressure inside the airplane cabin. This can lead to a less than desirable beverage.
Business Inconvenience
For business travelers, coffee can sometimes be necessary for their busy itineraries. However, the dilemma that many have to face is the drink deficiency on a flight. Leaking beverages, messes, and spills are all common irritants for travelers. Don’t forget about the limited space that can make coffee runs nearly impossible. Instead of risking coffee (or any other hot beverage) make sure that you are prepared for any on-board emergency with a snack in your carry-on. Your colleagues will thank you.
Nausea
Reclined seats, turbulence, and motion sickness can make coffee very hard to drink on a flight. The brisk movement of the aircraft combined with aroma of the beverage can be a potent combination for those prone to motion sickness. It is best to avoid coffee and other hot beverages if nausea is a frequent issue while flying. A cold snack or some water might just be your best bet.
Calorie Intake
Everyone likes to indulge in some snacks during a long dragged out flight. The question is – how many of your snacks should be caffeinated? Coffee contains a good amount of calories – even if it does not have milk or sugar added. Thinking about your pre and post-flight meals, consider that coffee is not the best choice when it comes to nutrition. Eating healthy will never be overrated.
Sleep Patterns
Having trouble sleeping on flights is usually common. Plane rides can sometimes last up to 10 hours and getting comfortable requires a little bit of effort. Unfortunately, reducing your consumption of caffeine is a must – and this includes coffee. Even if you limit your caffeine consumption for the day, you must still read the labels and be aware of any surprises that await. Better sleep equals a refreshed body that is ready to explore the next destination.
Side Effects
Patients that are currently undergoing or are prescribed medication should definitely limit their consumption of caffeine. Coffee can impact the body’s absorption rate of certain medications and can be a risk factor for dangerous side effects. Coffee drinkers should also be aware of the occasional digestive issues caffeine induces such as stomach cramps or heartburn. It is best to leave it up to the flight attendants and stick to decaffeinated beverages.
Blood Pressure
According to a recent study published by the American Heart Association, caffeine increases blood pressure in the short-term. As a result, researchers have suggested that calcium channel blockers — used to treat hypertension — have an increased influence when coupled with caffeine-containing beverages like coffee. Avoiding coffee (as well as tea, soda and energy drinks) can have a significant impact on your blood pressure during and after a flight.
Heartburn
Coffee, whether it’s decaf or regular, contains large amounts of acidity which can lead to episodes of heartburn. People prone to acid reflux should avoid coffee completely since it can trigger episodes of reflux. The elevation combined with the small spaces of the plane increases your chances of developing the condition, so it’s best to opt out of the hot beverage.
Caffeine Addiction
One of the main reasons why you should never drink coffee on a flight is due to its addictive properties. Caffeine is a stimulant that can cause you to become dependent on the substance for energy. If you’re looking for alternatives, try switching over to green teas or decaffeinated beverages such as HERBALIS Teas to limit your dependence on caffeine. HERBALIS Teas are a great source of ready-to-drink natural tea and provides essential hydration.
Headaches
Coffee can often cause dehydration, which in turn causes headaches. Airplanes already have extremely dry air, and when you combine that with the diuretic effects of caffeine, dehydration is inevitable leading to headaches. Upgrading to pressurized airplane cabins has made it so those headaches are much less common than they used to be, but it’s still a major issue that could ruin your flight.
Anxiety
Caffeine is a stimulant and can increase those anxious feelings before hopping on a plane. Those with anxiety disorders should stay away from coffee, as it can amplify feelings of jitters, and impair thinking due to its stimulating effect. Furthermore, it could be then more difficult to relax during your flight which is also an important factor to consider when choosing to drink coffee on a plane.
