Numerous students rely on caffeine to get through the day or pull an all-nighter before an exam or for a major assignment. Moreover, many adults depend on it to wake up in the morning or get through a nightshift. But, have you ever wondered how caffeine works? Have you considered its effects on our body?
Caffeine is a stimulant found naturally in seeds, nuts, and leaves of certain plants. For example, coffee seeds, tea leaves, and cacao plants. Coffee was allegedly discovered by an Ethiopian shepherd who noticed the extra energy it gave to his goats. (healthline) Now, caffeine is the main ingredient added to energy drinks because of its positive effects of elevating mood and decreasing fatigue in individuals which aids them to think clearly. (The New York Times) So, how does caffeine work? Once caffeine is consumed, it absorbs into the bloodstream and is broken down into compounds in the liver where these compounds affect the functions of various organs. However, it majorly affects the brain by blocking the effects of adenosine, a neurotransmitter that relaxes the brain but makes you feel tired as its levels build up over the day. This leads to reduced tiredness. Reportedly, caffeine also increases blood adrenaline levels and brain activity. This further stimulates the brain and promotes alertness and focus. (healthline)
With that said, since caffeine is habit-forming, there are a number of side effects associated with its excess intake. This includes anxiety, restlessness, tremors, irregular heartbeat, insomnia, headaches, migraine, and high blood pressure in some individuals. Therefore, it is essential to consider the recommended intake of caffeine which is 200 mg per dose, and up to 400 mg per day. However, pregnant women should limit their daily intake to 200 mg or less. (healthline)
Caffeine also makes it harder for individuals to fall asleep or affects the quality of their sleep due to its long duration of action in our systems. This is recognized when you do not feel refreshed after sleeping due to the decreased deep and restorative sleep caused by caffeine consumption. This causes an individual to be trapped in a cycle, where caffeine reduces their quality of sleep so they reach for more caffeine to combat the fatigue caused by their poor quality of sleep. This is emphasized in the TED talk made by Matt Walker. I highly encourage you to check it out if you are interested and you can decide for yourself if caffeine is effective for your lifestyle.
TED Talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQ9FfzMKBNc
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