Believe it or not, coffee and beer can form a great team if you're trying to get through a project. Beer improves your creativity, while coffee keeps you alert and ready to carry out the ideas you had while drinking. Just be careful not to consume them at the same time—or drink too much of either—or else you'll get nothing done. I Love Coffee created this infographic that looks at the difference between how drinking coffee and drinking beer affect your overall productivity.
This raises some interesting questions though. With the knowledge that we have about drugs like alcohol and caffeine, despite their drawbacks it seems that there is supposedly a way to responsibly maximize their benefits. If that’s true then it makes you wonder, are we missing our full potential by not taking the right drugs at the right time?
Science Explains What Happens to Your Brain on
Beer vs. Coffee
In a nutshell, beer is better for helping you come up with ideas, while coffee is better at helping you execute on those concepts. This video explains the science behind drinking beer more accurately:
The increase in inhibitory signals makes it so you focus on things that seem important to you. Essentially, you're thinking very little, but very deeply, Which is why small amounts of alcohol — like a snifter of brandy after dinner, or a single mimosa at brunch — could help with creativity, but a larger amount will turn you into a drunken frat boy. And considering that one of alcohol's effects is making you want to consume more of it, those with poor self-control would be advised to disregard.
Coffee, on the other hand, is just lovely. And while it might not be as good a way to partake of caffeine compared to tea, which has anti-oxidants, helps slow aging, and is just generally healthier, coffee-drinking is associated with longer lifespans and like any other caffeine-laden substance can help get you through a rough afternoon. But not all coffee is made equally. Getting a larger portion or adding milk, syrup, sugar or whipped cream can turn your cup of joe into a health-destroying mix of fat and glucose. And it probably dilutes caffeine's beneficial effects on your concentration. So order that coffee black for the healthiest, strongest effect.
Well, I'm off to get some beer! I need some inspiration! :D
Well, I'm off to get some beer! I need some inspiration! :D