Caffeine: the most important benefits, harms and important information

caffeine

Caffeine is one of the famous and common natural substances, and millions around the world rely on it through drinks containing this substance such as coffee, tea and other sources of this substance, and because the topic occupies the mind of many and they like to know everything related to it, here we will explain to you what caffeine is, and the most important benefits and harms And its effects on the body, so follow us.

What is caffeine?

Caffeine is a natural stimulant, found in many foods and drinks that we depend on on a daily basis, and it is considered one of the most popular natural materials and ingredients used, as the percentage of people who consume products containing this substance daily is estimated at about 80% of the world’s population, in order to make them in a state Alert, and pay attention to their daily tasks required of them.

This is all due to the properties of the substance that stimulate the brain and help awaken the central nervous system inside the body. This puts the person in a state of temporary alertness and relieves the feeling of fatigue and exhaustion.

There is also an artificial caffeine substance, which is manufactured to be added to some foods, drinks and medicines as well, because many medicines contain it, such as pain relievers and some cold medicines, and other commonly used medicines that help alertness and increase focus and attention.

The benefits of caffeine

There are some health benefits of consuming caffeine that have been supported by studies and research. Among its benefits are the following:

1. Improve mood and support brain function

Eating it in any form increases the levels of some molecules in the body, such as dopamine, noradrenaline, and adrenaline, and these changes that occur in the body help change some brain and brain messages that benefit the mood positively and support the functions of the mind. There are also studies that have shown these benefits, including:

  • Studies found that after a group of people consumed caffeine in varying amounts, alertness, memory, and short-term recall improved.
  • Other studies have linked drinking a certain amount of caffeinated beverages daily, such as coffee, which was estimated at about 2 to 3 cups with a caffeine ratio of 200 to 300 milligrams, and a decrease in the incidence of suicide by up to 45%.
  • Another study showed that the risk of depression decreased by about 13% among caffeine consumers.
  • Studies have shown that drinking about 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day, or 3 or more cups of tea a day, helps reduce the risk of developing some brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease by about 28 to 60%.

2. Promote metabolism and burn fat

Caffeine has a great ability to stimulate and enhance the central nervous system in the body, and for this reason it increases:

  • metabolism by up to 11%.
  • Fat burning process by up to 13%.

And some scientific studies have shown that if you eat about 300 milligrams on a daily basis, this helps you burn about 79 calories during the day additionally.

There is also a large study that lasted for 12 years, which showed that the people participating in the experiment, who drank coffee on a regular basis, were lighter in weight at the end of the study. But these effects may take time in the long term.

3. Enhance athletic performance

Whereas, consuming caffeine about an hour before performing exercise helps to promote healthy exercise performance, as it increases your body’s use of fat as fuel for you during these exercises.

In addition, it helps to maintain glucose stores in the muscles for the longest possible period, thus delaying the arrival of your muscles to the point of exhaustion, helping to improve the symptoms of muscle contraction, and increasing your tolerance for fatigue.

4. Prevention of chronic diseases

It helps prevent some chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes, as the results of experiments and studies indicate that the risk of heart disease decreases by 16 to 18%. among people who drink coffee on a daily basis.

Also, drinking coffee or green tea at a rate of 2 to 4 cups per day reduces the risk of developing some diseases, such as stroke, by 14 to 20%.

In addition to that it may protect against the risk of developing diabetes, there is a study showing a decrease in the chances of developing type 2 diabetes by up to 29% among those who drink coffee on a daily and regular basis, but they also explained that what helps coffee to contain some properties and compounds other beneficial to health.

5. Other health benefits

There are some other important health benefits of this substance, including:

  • Promote liver health Protect it, reduce the risk of liver damage, and slow the progression of liver disease if infected.
  • Drinking coffee helps Reducing the risk of premature deathEspecially for diabetics and women, thus supporting longevity.
  • Reduce the risk of cancerDrinking 2 to 4 cups of coffee daily helps reduce the risk of cancer, especially liver cancer, rectal cancer, and colon cancer.
  • Promotes skin healthDrinking coffee on a daily basis with a good caffeine rate helps reduce the risk of developing difficult skin diseases such as skin cancer.
  • Reduces the risk of multiple sclerosis Or what is known as MS, where the chance of infection with this disease decreases among coffee consumers, but studies are still in place to research this benefit to confirm it.
  • Reduces the risk of goutDrinking about 4 cups of coffee daily helps reduce the risk of gout.
  • Promote gut healthThis is because drinking about 3 cups of coffee during the day on a regular basis, for a period of at least three weeks, may help support gut health and increase the activity of beneficial bacteria in the intestine.

These benefits that we talked about may support the health of the body because of the compounds and other properties contained in some drinks that contain caffeine, such as coffee and tea, as these properties help benefit from these multiple health benefits besides caffeine.

Caffeine serum

Caffeine helps to greatly enhance the health of the skin, so it is used and its sources are used to produce some effective skin products, including caffeine serum for the skin, especially caffeine serum for dark circles and wrinkles under the eye, as this type is very common. Caffeine also has some benefits for the skin, such as:

  • Protect skin from damage.
  • Support smoothness and radiance of the skin.
  • Getting rid of bags under the eyes.
  • Calming inflammation, redness and inflammation of the skin, especially resulting from exposure to sunlight.

caffeine pills

These pills are used to increase focus and energy, especially while studying or working and performing daily tasks, and they guarantee you a boost of energy in the short term. These pills may contain natural or manufactured caffeine.

The levels of caffeine in these pills vary according to the types of pills and according to the brand. In some pills, the percentage may reach from 100 to 200 milligrams of caffeine. These pills are mostly safe for most people, but they should be taken in moderation.

Effects of caffeine on health

Mostly caffeine consumption in all its forms and sources is considered safe, although it may become a habit for some. However, there are some harms and side effects resulting from consuming it in an immoderate and excessive manner, such as:

  • anxiety attacks
  • Shiver.
  • Insomnia.
  • Sleep difficulties.
  • Irregular heart rate.
  • Headaches, especially migraines.
  • Exposure to high blood pressure for a group of people.
  • It can interact with some medications that some people use.
  • Exposure to symptoms of caffeine sensitivity.

There are also some people who should avoid consuming sources that contain caffeine and limit their consumption, including:

  • People with anxiety disorders.
  • Those who suffer from headaches, especially chronic and migraine headaches.
  • People with anxiety.
  • People with heart rate problems.
  • Patients with stomach ulcers and GERD.
  • People with high blood pressure.
  • People taking medications or supplements should consult a doctor.
  • Children and adolescents It is best to avoid its consumption, especially children.

Caffeine for pregnant women

It may be safe to consume caffeine during pregnancy, but in small quantities estimated at about 200 milligrams or less during the day, because consuming it in large quantities and exceeding the permissible limit may expose the mother to miscarriage and expose the fetus to other problems such as a lower weight than normal weight at birth, because this substance It crosses the placenta easily and reaches the fetus in the mother’s womb and affects it and its development.

Therefore, it is better to reduce its consumption and to consult a doctor who monitors pregnancy about the possibility of consuming it or not, because your condition may not be allowed to take any sources of caffeine.

Side effects of caffeine intake while breastfeeding

As is the case during pregnancy, it is preferable to avoid caffeine or use it in small amounts during the breastfeeding period, because it easily passes into breast milk, and if the mother consumes large and excessive amounts of it, the child is exposed to problems, complications and tiring symptoms, such as:

  • irritability
  • sleep problems
  • Excessive bowel activity.

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