In general, people usually wonder whether the consumption of caffeine is beneficial or harmful to their health. There some benefits and risk of consuming caffeine but based on the different studies that have been conducted over the years, more importance are given to benefits of caffeine (Hensrud, 2014). According to Gunnars (2013), caffeine is good for health as it contains antioxidants and beneficial nutrients which may improve human health. Plus, Gunnars (2013) also stated that studies show that coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of several serious diseases and have proven to have some health benefits. First and foremost, caffeine help people feel less tired, increases memory and increases energy levels. This is because, when caffeine is consumed, it is absorbed into the bloodstream which then travels to the brain and caffeine blocks an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain. Then, the amount of other neurotransmitter such as dopamine and noradrenaline increases which leads to enhanced firing of neurons. Therefore, this improves various aspect of brain function such as memory, mood, reaction time, alertness and energy levels (Gunnars, 2013). Secondly, caffeine may lower the risk of type II diabetes in humans. Particularly, type II diabetes is caused by high blood sugars in the context of insulin resistance or the failure to secrete insulin. According to Gunnars (2013), studies illustrate that people who consume caffeine have a 23-50% lower risk of getting type II diabetes while one study showed a reduction as high as 67%. In addition, each daily cup of coffee was associated with a 7% reduced risk of developing type II diabetes based on a massive review that looked at data from 18 studies with a sum of 457 922 individuals... ... middle of paper ... ...unnars, 2013). Lastly, caffeine could drastically improve physical performance. In connection to this, caffeine stimulates the nervous system which causes it to send signals to the fat cell to break down body fat and at the same time it increases adrenaline levels in the blood (Gunnars, 2013). As consequences, the caffeine makes the fat cells break down body fat which releases them into the blood as free fatty acids and the body is ready for intense physical exertion. To sum up, there are benefits of caffeine but the level of caffeine can vary depending on what is consumed. Consequently, caffeine should be taken in moderate amounts as too much of caffeine could be harmful to the body. For instance, too much of caffeine could lead to osteoporosis as caffeine could decrease the bone mineral density and it can also cause dehydration (Michigan State University, 2013).
Caffeine is produced by plants as an insecticide. It is a drug that acts as a stimulant in humans and causes a raised heart rate, and is used to give more energy in drinks such as tea and coffee, add flavour to drinks such as coke, and in weight-loss foods. A raised heart rate increases the risk of cardiovascular disease as it makes the heart work faster which can wear it out. High levels of caffeine have been linked to increased stress and insomnia, which is also linked to heart disease as it raises blood pressure.
Caffeine, a central nervous system stimulant, is the main psychoactive ingredient in energy drinks, which enhances alertness and mood, and counteracts symptoms of sleep. There is no doubt ...
By this definition, and after knowing the effects of caffeine upon the human body, I have come to the conclusion that drinking caffeine is a sign of a lack of respect for oneself, and of an unappreciative attitude toward the life that each of us has been blessed with. Furthermore, it shows of either our inability, or unwillingness to learn to think clearly.
Caffeine raises your blood pressure when you drink/eat it, raising your blood pressure in general is not a good thing but imagine drinking and/or eating caffeine daily, and your blood pressure constantly rising. Another negative aspect is that caffeine can have a disruptive effect on your sleep. The most obvious effect of the caffeine is that it can make it hard for you to fall asleep. It can help you stay awake during the day but can also make you stay awake during the night when you are trying to fall asleep. You can also have withdraws from caffeine, going back to the story “Java Man” the author Malcolm Gladwell considered it a drug and remember you can get addicted to drugs (you can really get addicted to anything). There are plenty more negative ways caffeine can disrupt your lifestyle but you know what they say for every negative thing you can say there can be some
Caffeine is a mild stimulant that occurs naturally in at least 63 plant species. Caffeine can be found in the leaves, stems, seeds, and roots of these various plants. Caffeine is part of the methylxanthine family. It consists of a xanthine molecule with three methyl groups attached to it. Caffeine can be found in many products like sodas, tea, and coffee, but it also occurs in several other products such as prescription medications, diuretics, and pain relievers. Caffeine’s widespread use and popularity have caused many people to view the substance as an addictive drug. Thus making caffeine the most inexpensive and readily available drug known to man. Then on the other hand there are people who view caffeine as a helpful stimulant that increases the individual’s concentration and awareness as well as many other physical traits. The important thing to remember is that caffeine’s affects vary based on the person, the amount ingested, the frequency of consumption, and individual metabolism. (http://www.pp.okstate.edu/ehs/kopykit/caffeine.html)
...ease of calcium, and reduction of lactic acid is a result of glycogen sparing. In endurance exercise, caffeine allows athletes to exercise for a longer duration through glycogen- sparing, burning fats as fuel, increase calcium production, and increase in alertness and adrenaline. Caffeine is also proven to improve reaction time by the increase amount of adrenaline the caffeine provides. Caffeine also aids in post-work out pain an athlete may experience after a rigorous workout. Caffeine also has its health benefits. Caffeine reduces the risk of: liver cancer by improving enzyme activity, Alzheimer’s by blocking the progression of the disease as a result of the A2A antagonist, and Parkinson’s disease by protecting dopamine- producing cells. Ultimately, caffeine is shown to have a positive effect on an athlete’s performance, and also has positive health benefits.
Several people rely on caffeine to wake them up or give them a boost of energy when they feel down. Acting as a stimulant, caffeine not only improves concentration and focus, but also stops fatigue (Staff 1). Considered the most commonly used psychoactive drug in the world, approximately 90 percent of adults consume it daily (“MedicineNet.com” 1). But do caffeine buyers really stop to evaluate the possinle harmful effects on their body? Health scares similar to this are not recent. In fact, they have been going on for over 100 years. In 1911, the US Government sued the Coca-Cola company for making their drinks hazardous to other’s health (Lovett 2). Although the Coca-Cola company won, it proves that people worry about what they put into their bodies, even if it does help them stay up to finish their homework. Not everybody will experience the same effects from caffeine. Some people seem more sensitive to caffeine than others (Staff 1). While some will express unwanted effects after only one cup of coffee or tea, others will not notice these same effects until after maybe four or five cups. Although caffeine does include benefits, many downfalls exemplify the stimulant as well. Drinking even small amounts of caffeine daily develops harmful effects on most people’s body and health.
Caffeine comes in many different forms, and is an important in many people’s lives. In order to understand how caffeine has the potential to stimulate the memory, you must understand what caffeine is. Caffeine isn’t sugary or sweet like most substances that contain caffeine. Caffeine is actually a bitter substance, which has many effects on the body’s metabolism (“Caffeine”). It is also a stimulant, meaning it has the ability to increase activity. A survey recently conducted by Johns Hopkins Bay View Medical Center found that 85% of Americans including childre...
Scrutiny of caffeine and its effects has increased dramatically in the last 20 years, due in part to an increase in consumption of caffeine. In fact, coffee consumption among young adults rose to 3.2 cups per day in 2008 from 2.4 cups per day in 2005 (Rokerya 1). For instance, in a one hour period, on Richland College’s on-campus Starbucks, the author took note of how many customers arrived and purchased a cup of coffee. Between 8:00 and 9:00 AM, there were 51 customers, implying that – especially at college - many people are dependent on coffee in the mornings. However, the results from these studies are inconclusive and often somewhat contradictory – many studies (such as that by Tetsuya Ohara et al.) show that caffeine is a great boon to
As the vast majority of Americans are addicted to caffeine, studies show that the effects during post-consumption, can be positive or negative depending on the amount and frequency of caffeine intake. As the demand for caffeine has increased, the caffeine industry has increased its amount of marketing and establishments to help aid this demand. Caffeine addiction can lead to serious health detriments and physiological detriments. It is evident that the primary reason for consumption of caffeinated beverages is due to positive effects, such as alertness. The media has an abundance of marketing to continue to illustrate this main effect. The media fails to project the negative effects of excessive caffeine intake. This literature review will illustrate how excessive caffeine consumption can be detrimental to one’s life, and how problematic caffeine use derives from conditioning by the caffeine industries.
Caffeine is a chemical found in coffee, tea, soft drinks and various easy to get foods and drinks. Like all drugs, caffeine has its good and bad side. Caffeine’s categorized as a stimulant, meaning it temporarily increases alertness and energy. With this stated, you may ask yourself, what’s so bad about a little high associated with coffee or chocolate? I mean it’s practically harmless, right.
Coffee is the first thing that people associate with instant energy on a groggy morning. “In the U.S., coffee is king of beverages” (Reinke) Research has been done that has named coffee as an addiction to the people who consume large quantities of it. Coffee was named the top source of antioxidants. This is partly because of the amount consumed each day. Some of the antioxidants that coffee has are quinines and chlorogenic acid. It also contains trigonelline, an antibacterial compound. This is where coffee acquires its delicious aroma. Now let’s step back for a minute and just think about how much caffeine people consume. In an 8oz cup of coffee it has about 85 milligrams of caffeine. This is about double the amount that tea contains. Studies have shown that caffeine stimulates the brain and nervous system. This is where you get that energized feeling. After about the third cup, knees start to bounce, pens are clicking and people start running laps around the office. Caffeine can become addicting if you drink too much. Coffee can become that addictive habit people are unable to shake.
It’s important to watch how much caffeine your body is receiving each day in the foods and drinks you consume. Caffeine is not a bad drug, but be careful to watch for symptoms of withdrawal and caffeine intoxication. It can be dangerous for your body if too much stress is put on it. Remember, there are always decaffeinated options and sometimes these are the best to keep your body healthy. Works Cited faculty.washington.edu/chudler/caff.html greenfacts.org/en/psychoactive-drugs wisegeek.com/what-is-caffeine.htm psych.umn.edu/courses/spring05/ / caffeine.
Focus: Many research studies have examined how coffee affects the brain and its functions, and with a healthy diet coffee has many benefits – but also disadvantages.
It has been proven to prevent diseases and improve physical and mental ability. Fruits and vegetables also have tons of antioxidants but our bodies seem to absorb the most from coffee. Nutrients from the coffee bean are infused into the drink such as, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Pantothenic Acid (Vitamin B5), Manganese and Potassium, Magnesium and Niacin. These beneficial elements can help boost athletic performance, if taken at the right time before a workout. Caffeine increases the number of fatty acids in the bloodstream, which allows athletes' muscles to absorb and burn those fats for fuel, therefore saving the body's small reserves of carbohydrates for later on in the exercise. (Gunnars,