Caffeine: the Benefits, Risks, and Effects

The Benefits, Risks, and Effects Of Caffeine

Caffeine is a natural stimulant that is found in approximately 60 different species of plants like tea leaves, cocoa beans, coffee beans, guarana berries, and kola nuts. Many people get their daily caffeine intake from drinking soft drinks, tea, coffee, or energy drinks-or from eating chocolate.

This article will discuss the benefits, risks, and effects of caffeine.

Benefits of Caffeine

There are various benefits to caffeine such as weight loss, positive sports performance, improved brain function, and enhanced alertness.

1. Weight Loss

Speed of weight loss. Along with going to gym in Dubai you can burn around 80 extra calories each day when you consume 300 mg of caffeine.

2. Positive Sports Performance

With increased caffeine intake, you can likely see improved sports performance. Your muscles will tend to feel less exhausted because caffeine enables stored glucose levels in your muscles to last longer. Caffeine can enhance the way your muscles contract, so they don't get fatigued as easily.

3. Brain Function and Alertness

You'll likely feel more focused and alert when drinking caffeinated beverages or consuming chocolate. The molecular structure of caffeine effectively stimulates the central nervous system. Caffeine blocks adenosine, which is a neurotransmitter in your brain that can make you tired.

Risks of Caffeine

When you consume too much caffeine each day, there are some risks you should be aware of like depression, high blood sugar, pregnancy risks, fertility, and headaches.

1. Depression

According to the Mayo Clinic, there is no definitive correlation between depression and caffeine intake. However, high caffeine consumption can hinder regular sleep patterns. Lack of sleep may cause negative moods or deeper depression.

2. High Blood Sugar

For normal, healthy adults who consume no more than 400 mg of caffeine each day, caffeine consumption will not negatively affect blood sugar (glucose) levels. However, caffeine can decrease the body's sensitivity to insulin, which would make it more difficult to maintain healthy blood sugar levels.

3. Pregnancy Risks

It is not recommended that pregnant women consume caffeine Consuming high amounts of caffeine during pregnancy can possibly lead to miscarriage, birth defects, or giving birth to a baby with low weight. Women trying to conceive should not drink caffeine since it can make it more difficult to get pregnant. It is important to note that the link from caffeine consumption to pregnancy and infertility is not conclusive.

4. Headaches

If you suffer from migraine headaches, it is possible that consuming more than three caffeinated drinks daily could trigger a headache. For some people, caffeine can relieve the pain of headaches. For others, it can trigger them.

Effects of Caffeine on the Body

Caffeine can have both positive and negative effects on your body pertaining to brain function, cell activity, blood vessels, and adrenaline levels.

1. Brain Function

Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, which increases alertness and enhances brain function.

2. Cell Activity

When consuming caffeine, it blocks the chemical phosphodiesterase (PDE) inside your body's cells. PDE is normally responsible for breaking down the secondary chemical messenger, cyclic adenosine monophosphate.