Every day millions of people consume caffeine for various reasons such as to alleviate fatigue, improve concentration and focus. I love my cup of coffee first thing in the morning. It energizes me and helps me with my weight loss goals.
S0 what Are The Caffeine Benefits and Risks? Here we look at both the benefits, the effects and the risks of drinking caffeine.
What is caffeine
Caffeine is a stimulant and the most commonly used drug in the world.
Caffeine can bring both benefits and risks
Amid myths and controversy about whether caffeine is good or bad for us, evidence suggests that moderate coffee consumption can bring both benefits and risks.
High consumption of caffeine may be harmful
However, high consumption of caffeine may not be healthful. In addition, the recent trend of adding caffeine to drinks and snacks that do not naturally contain it has raised new concerns.
In this article, we look at both the potential health benefits and risks of caffeine.
What excess caffeine does to you
Caffeine, like chocolate, often receives bad publicity. Excess caffeine can create anxiety, nausea (particularly if taken on an empty stomach), increased heart rate, and even depression in some people. But scientists have turned up some interesting facts on caffeine. For example, caffeine actually blocks a neurotransmitter’s effects in the brain (adenosine) that otherwise makes us feel tired.
Caffeine encourages the release of another brain chemical, dopamine (as well as adrenaline). Dopamine contributes to a feeling of well-being.
Caffeine may protect your liver
Drinking caffeine-containing drinks like coffee and tea had a protective effect for those at risk of developing liver disease. The study participants had issues that increased their risk of liver disease, including alcoholism, hepatitis B or C, obesity, or other complications.
Caffeine may lower the risk of death
A study found that drinking 3 cups of coffee a day could lower the risk of death from liver cirrhosis. Research from Austria showed that caffeine might actually enhance short-term memory.
Researchers found an increase in brain activity (as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging) in the parts of the brain that were associated with memory and attention. These parts of the brain were the frontal lobe and the anterior cingulum.