The caffeine is what makes your morning coffee a stimulating drink . Science has shown that caffeine has multiple health benefits , but it may also have some negative effects on the Body. Important factors are the amount consumed and the health status of the person.
Caffeine is found naturally in the coffee , the tea leaves (Camellia sinensis), in the cocoa and also in the cola nut , the seeds of guarana , the leaf of yerba mate , among other plants . There is also synthetic caffeine , which is added to some medicines, foods and drinks. For example, painkillers and energy drinks.
What effects does caffeine have on your body?
1. Stimulant
Caffeine is a stimulant substance that helps create a better mood, higher levels of alertness and the ability to concentrate.
Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system , which can make you feel more awake and it will give you a energy boost , publishes the United States National Library of Medicine.
2. Supports memory
A dose of 160 to 600 mg can improve mental alertness, accelerate reasoning and memory , publish Medical News Today.
3. Lower risk of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s
Caffeine can protect against Parkinson’s disease. The Harvar School of Public Health d (HSPH) notes that animal studies show a protective effect of caffeine versus brain deterioration. Other studies also show a strong association of people with higher caffeine intake and lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Meta-analyzes also indicate that consuming caffeine throughout life can reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
4. Improves performance
Healtline shares that caffeine can affect cells throughout the body , including muscle cells and the brain. Caffeine activates areas of the brain and the nervous system to improve concentration and energy, while reduces fatigue. It can also affect the motor cortex, which is a part of the brain that indicates muscle activation.
5. It can promote the health of your heart
Caffeine stimulates the heart , increases the blood flow and increases blood pressure temporarily, especially in people who do not usually consume caffeine. In moderate amounts , consuming caffeine can reduce the risk of heart disease, as published by Medical News Today.
The HSPH notes that no strong negative effects of caffeine have been found on blood pressure , even in people with hypertension .
6. May promote weight loss
In moderate consumption of coffee (4 cups ) increases the metabolism of the drinker , which can burn more calories and causes a decrease in body fat.
7. Diuretic
Caffeine helps the body get rid of extra water and salt by urinating more.
8. May improve breathing
Caffeine has an action similar to the drug theophylline, which is sometimes prescribed to treat asthma. Both relax the smooth muscles of the lungs and open the bronchial tubes, which can improve breathing.
9. Lower risk of kidney stones
In analysis , caffeine intake is associated with a lower risk of kidney stone incidents.
Caffeine is believed to help stimulate contractions in the gallbladder and increase the secretion of cholecystokinin, a hormone that accelerates the digestion of fats.
10. Lower risk of diabetes
Caffeine can protect and preserve the function of beta cells in the pancreas, which are responsible for secreting insulin.
According to the HSPH, studies show that regular coffee intake is associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes, although the effect may be due to compounds in the coffee plant rather than caffeine per se.
11. Lower risk of liver cancer
Harvard shares that the intake of caffeinated coffee is associated with a lower risk of liver cancer, fibrosis and cirrhosis.
Risks
- Dependence. If you’ve been consuming caffeine on a regular basis and then suddenly stop, you may be caffeine withdrawal. Symptoms may include: headaches, drowsiness, irritability, nausea, and difficulty concentrating.
- Stomach ache. Caffeine increases the release of acid in the stomach, which sometimes leads to an upset stomach or heartburn
- Drug interactions. May cause the body to break down a drug too quickly to lose its effectiveness.
Headache
Excessive caffeine consumption
Excessive caffeine consumption can cause: insomnia, nervousness , anxiety, accelerated heart rate , upset stomach, nausea, headache and a feeling of sadness (dysphoria).
In pregnancy. A high caffeine intake by mothers e can result in reduced blood flow and oxygen levels, which increases the risk of miscarriage and low birth weight of the baby.
Caffeine toxicity has been observed with intakes of 1.2 grams or more in one dose . Consuming amounts greater than 5g in a day can be fatal, especially if people do not receive treatment on time. To get to the amount of 5 grams of caffeine you need 50 cups of coffee, but there are those who have exceeded those levels of caffeine in medications, powders or pills.
For people with heart disease the amounts that can cause toxicity are much lower.
How much caffeine is safe to consume?
For healthy adults, the FDA Has mentioned 400 milligrams per day , which is four to five cups of coffee.
In pregnancy , the intake caffeine intake is limited to no more than 200 mg per day
According to Mayo Clinic an eight-ounce cup of coffee contains approximately 96 mg of caffeine , a cup of black tea 74 mg, a cup of green tea 28 mg and 8 ounces of cola 22 mg. A natural chocolate bar (50 g) has approximately 25 mg of caffeine.
Products based on pure and highly concentrated caffeine present a threat to health. The FDA notes that just a teaspoon of pure powdered caffeine can contain the same amount of caffeine as 28 cups of coffee.
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