What Does Caffeine Really do
Caffeine is a substance that can be found in almost any type of drink nowadays. It’s one of the great things that can get you up and going in a short amount of time. But there are many misconceptions and opinions on caffeine. With a lot of people saying it’s terrible for you to have, and others putting it into their daily routine. In this we are going to break down caffeine and find out what it really does for your body.
To break caffeine down, it is a chemical compound, and is technically considered a drug. Caffee naturally occurs in many plants including cocoa and coffee beans. It is also used over the counter and in prescription medications.
Caffeine is a stimulant that acts on your central nervous system. Its main role is to give you a big jump of energy and make you feel more alert. It may help with alertness, but it does have other effects on the body. These effects are less desirable and bring back the case that caffeine is a drug.
- Increase in blood pressure
- Causes more acid to be released in the stomach, heartburn
- Acts as a diuretic, which means that it will make your body get rid of more water and salt
A lot of different drinks contain caffeine, the most common is coffee and tea. Although tea these days is more of a herbal drink. Common caffeine drinks include coffee, espresso, tea, yerba mate, energy/sports drinks, and soda.
Caffeine does have some health benefits on the brain and body as well.
- Sharper brain function
- Increased metabolism
- Improved exercise performance
- Diabetes and hearts disease
There are some things that you do need to be careful of. There are multiple side effects that can have quite the effect
- Shakiness and inability to sit still
- Insomnia or sleep disturbances
- Headache
- Stomach ache or heartburn
- Dizziness
- Increased heart rate
- Dehydration
- Anxiety
- Dependency, which means you need more to get the same effect
Caffeine is a chemical compound that many people consume every day. It is most commonly consumed in coffee and tea, though it can also be consumed through other foods and drinks, certain medications, and even recreational drugs. Caffeine does have health benefits, but like with any drug, excessively high doses can pose health risks. For most people, the everyday use of caffeine through coffee or tea is just fine.
