{"id":14608,"date":"2024-03-12T00:00:43","date_gmt":"2024-03-12T00:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/?p=14608"},"modified":"2024-03-12T17:14:35","modified_gmt":"2024-03-12T17:14:35","slug":"what-is-caffeine-and-is-it-good-or-bad-for-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fitolympia.com\/na\/what-is-caffeine-and-is-it-good-or-bad-for-health\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Caffeine, and Is It Good or Bad for Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Each day, billions of people rely on caffeine to wake up, or to get through that night shift or an afternoon slump.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In fact, this natural stimulant is one of the most commonly used ingredients in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine is often talked about for its negative effects on sleep and anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, studies also report that it has various health benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article examines the latest research on caffeine and your health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"man<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is caffeine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine\u00a0<\/strong>is a natural stimulant most commonly found in tea, coffee, and cacao plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It works by stimulating the brain and central nervous system, helping you stay alert and prevent the onset of tiredness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Historians track the first brewed tea as far back as 2737 B.C. .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coffee was reportedly discovered many years later by an Ethiopian shepherd who noticed the extra energy it gave his goats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeinated\u00a0soft drinks\u00a0hit the market in the late 1800s and energy drinks soon followed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nowadays, 80% of the world\u2019s population consumes a caffeinated product each day, and this number goes up to 90% for adults in North America .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>

Caffeine is a natural stimulant that\u2019s widely consumed worldwide. It helps you stay awake and can stave off tiredness.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

How it works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once consumed, caffeine is quickly absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From there, it travels to the liver and is broken down into compounds that can affect the function of various organs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That said, caffeine\u2019s main effect is on the brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It functions by blocking the effects of adenosine, which is a neurotransmitter that relaxes the brain and makes you feel tired .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Normally, adenosine levels build up over the day, making you increasingly more tired and causing you to want to go to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine helps you\u00a0stay awake\u00a0by connecting to adenosine receptors in the brain without activating them. This blocks the effects of adenosine, leading to reduced tiredness .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may also increase blood adrenaline levels and increase brain activity of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This combination further stimulates the brain and promotes a state of arousal, alertness, and focus. Because it affects your brain, caffeine is often referred to as a psychoactive drug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, caffeine tends to exert its effects quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, the amount found\u00a0in one cup of coffee\u00a0can take as little as 20 minutes to reach the bloodstream and about 1 hour to reach full effectiveness .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>

Caffeine\u2019s main effect is on the brain. It stimulates the brain by blocking the effects of the neurotransmitter adenosine.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

What foods and drinks contain caffeine?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine is naturally found in the seeds, nuts, or leaves of certain plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These natural sources are then harvested and processed to produce caffeinated foods and beverages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the amounts of caffeine expected per 8-ounce (240-mL) serving of some popular beverages .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  • Espresso:<\/strong> 240\u2013720 mg<\/li>
  • Coffee:<\/strong> 102\u2013200 mg<\/li>
  • Yerba mate:<\/strong> 65\u2013130 mg<\/li>
  • Energy drinks:<\/strong> 50\u2013160 mg<\/li>
  • Brewed tea:<\/strong> 40\u2013120 mg<\/li>
  • Soft drinks:<\/strong> 20\u201340 mg<\/li>
  • Decaffeinated coffee:<\/strong> 3\u201312 mg<\/li>
  • Cocoa beverage:<\/strong> 2\u20137 mg<\/li>
  • Chocolate milk:<\/strong> 2\u20137 mg<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Some foods also contain caffeine. For instance, 1 ounce (28 grams) of milk chocolate contains 1\u201315 mg, whereas 1 ounce of\u00a0dark chocolate<\/strong>\u00a0has 5\u201335 mg .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    You can also find caffeine in some prescription or over-the-counter drugs like cold, allergy, and pain medications. It\u2019s also a common ingredient in\u00a0weight loss supplements<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>

    Caffeine is most commonly found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, and energy drinks.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    May improve mood and brain function<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Caffeine has the ability to block the brain-signaling molecule adenosine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This causes a relative increase in other signaling molecules, such as dopamine and norepinephrine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This change in brain messaging is thought to benefit your mood and brain function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One review reports that after participants ingested 37.5\u2013450 mg of caffeine, they had improved alertness, short-term recall, and reaction time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In addition, a study linked drinking 2\u20133 cups of caffeinated coffee (providing about 200\u2013300 mg caffeine) per day to a 45% lower risk of suicide .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Another study reported a 13% lower risk of depression in caffeine consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    When it comes to mood, more caffeine isn\u2019t necessarily better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A study found that a second cup of coffee produced no further benefits unless it was consumed at least 8 hours after the first cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Drinking between 3\u20135 cups of coffee per day or more than 3 cups of tea per day may also reduce the risk of brain diseases such as Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s by 28\u201360%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It\u2019s important to note that coffee and tea contain other bioactive compounds (besides caffeine) that may also be beneficial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>

    Caffeine may improve mood, decrease the likelihood of depression, stimulate brain function, and protect against Alzheimer\u2019s and Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    May boost metabolism and fat burning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Because of its ability to stimulate the central nervous system, caffeine\u00a0may increase metabolism<\/strong>\u00a0by up to 11% and fat burning by up to 13%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Practically speaking, consuming 300 mg of caffeine per day may allow you to burn an extra 79 calories daily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This amount may seem small, but it\u2019s similar to the calorie excess responsible for the average yearly weight gain of 2.2 pounds (1 kg) in Americans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    However, a 12-year study on caffeine and weight gain noted that the participants who drank the most coffee were, on average, only 0.8\u20131.1 pounds (0.4\u20130.5 kg) lighter at the end of the study .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>

    Caffeine may boost metabolism and promote fat loss, but these effects are likely to remain small over the long term.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    May enhance exercise performance<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    When it comes to\u00a0exercise<\/strong>, caffeine may increase the use of fat as fuel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This is beneficial because it can help the glucose stored in muscles last longer, potentially delaying the time it takes your muscles to reach exhaustion .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Caffeine may also improve muscle contractions and increase tolerance to fatigue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Researchers observed that doses of 2.3 mg per pound (5 mg per kg) of body weight\u00a0improved endurance performance<\/strong>\u00a0by up to 5% when consumed 1 hour before exercise .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Doses as low as 1.4 mg per pound (3 mg per kg) of body weight may be sufficient to reap the benefits .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    What\u2019s more, studies report similar benefits in team sports, high intensity workouts, and resistance exercises .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Finally, it may also reduce perceived exertion during exercise by up to 5.6%, which can make workouts feel easier .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>

    Consuming small amounts of caffeine about an hour before exercise is likely to improve exercise performance.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    May protect against heart disease and diabetes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Despite what you may have heard, caffeine doesn\u2019t raise the risk of heart disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In fact, evidence shows a 16\u201318% lower risk of heart disease in men and women who drink between 1\u20134 cups of coffee daily (providing approximately 100\u2013400 mg of caffeine).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Other studies show that drinking 2\u20134 cups of coffee or\u00a0green tea<\/strong>\u00a0per day is linked to a 14\u201320% lower risk of stroke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    One thing to keep in mind is that caffeine may slightly raise blood pressure in some people. However, this effect is generally small (3\u20134 mmHg) and tends to fade for most individuals when they consume coffee regularly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    It may also\u00a0protect against diabetes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    A review noted that those who drink the most coffee have up to a 29% lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Similarly, those who consume the most caffeine have up to a 30% lower risk .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The authors observed that the risk drops by 12\u201314% for every 200 mg of caffeine consumed .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Interestingly, consuming\u00a0decaffeinated coffee\u00a0was also linked to a 21% lower risk of diabetes. This indicates that other beneficial compounds in coffee can also protect against type 2 diabetes .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>

    Caffeinated beverages like coffee and tea may reduce the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, although this may depend on the individual.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

    Other health benefits of coffee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    \"\"\/<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Coffee consumption is linked to several other health benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    • Liver protection.<\/strong>\u00a0Coffee may reduce the risk of liver damage (cirrhosis) by as much as 84%. It may slow disease progression, improve treatment response, and lower the risk of premature death .<\/li>
    • Longevity.<\/strong>\u00a0Drinking coffee may decrease the risk of premature death by as much as 30%, especially for women and people with diabetes .<\/li>
    • Decreased cancer risk.<\/strong>\u00a0Drinking 2\u20134 cups of coffee per day may reduce liver cancer risk by up to 64% and colorectal cancer risk by up to 38%.<\/li>
    • Skin protection.<\/strong>\u00a0Consuming 4 or more cups of caffeinated coffee per day may lower the risk of skin cancer by 20%.<\/li>
    • Reduced MS risk.<\/strong>\u00a0Coffee drinkers may have up to a 30% lower risk of developing\u00a0multiple sclerosis (MS). However, not all studies agree .<\/li>
    • Gout prevention.<\/strong>\u00a0Regularly drinking 4 cups of coffee per day may reduce the risk of developing gout by 40% in men and 57% in women .<\/li>
    • Gut health.<\/strong>\u00a0Consuming 3 cups of coffee a day for as few as 3 weeks may increase the amount and activity of beneficial gut bacteria .<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

      Keep in mind that coffee also contains other substances that\u00a0improve health<\/strong>. Some benefits listed above may be caused by substances other than caffeine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>

      Drinking coffee may promote a healthy liver, skin, and digestive tract. It may also prolong life and help prevent several diseases.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

      Safety and side effects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Caffeine consumption is generally considered safe, although habit forming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Some\u00a0side effects linked to excess intake\u00a0include anxiety<\/strong>, restlessness<\/strong>, tremors<\/strong>, irregular heartbeat<\/strong>, and trouble sleeping.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Too much caffeine may also promote headaches, migraine, and high blood pressure in some individuals .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In addition, caffeine can easily cross the placenta, which can increase the risk of miscarriage or low birth weight. Pregnant women should limit their intake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Caffeine can also interact with some medications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Individuals taking the muscle relaxant Zanaflex or the antidepressant Luvox should avoid caffeine because these drugs can increase their effects .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>

      Caffeine can have negative side effects in some people, including anxiety, restlessness, and trouble sleeping.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

      Recommended dosages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) consider a daily intake of 400 mg of caffeine to be safe. This amounts to 2\u20134 cups of coffee per day .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      That said, it\u2019s worth noting that fatal overdoses have been reported with single doses of 500 mg of caffeine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Therefore, it\u2019s recommended to limit the amount of caffeine you consume at one time to 200 mg per dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, pregnant women should limit their daily intake to 200 mg .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      SUMMARY<\/strong><\/p>

      A caffeine intake of 200 mg per dose, and up to 400 mg per day, is generally considered safe. Pregnant women should limit their daily intake to 200 mg or less.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

      The bottom line<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Caffeine isn\u2019t as unhealthy as it was once believed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In fact, evidence shows that it may be just the opposite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Therefore, it\u2019s safe to consider your daily cup of coffee or tea as an enjoyable way to promote good health.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Each day, billions of people rely on caffeine to wake up, or to get through that night shift or an 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