Caffeine

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Caffeine is a natural ingredient contained in coffee that acts as a stimulant for the human central nervous system. Caffeine is defined as a xanthine alkaloid, which is found in the leaves and fruits of various plants - coffee, tea, guarana, cocoa, cola and others. It is a natural pesticide and paralyzes and kills various insects that feed on these plants. Under the scientific term trimethylxanthine, caffeine is found in coffee beans, tea leaves and other plants. In coffee it is called caffeine, in tea - tianin, in Guarana - guarana, in Yerba Mate - matein.

Ethiopia is considered to be the home of the coffee tree. Between the 12th and 15th centuries, it found its way to Arabia, from where its use spread throughout the world. Caffeine is found in more than 60 plants that grow in Africa and South America. Legend has it that the Arabs first began using it 1,000 years ago as a drink made from the leaves of the coffee tree. From South Arabia the use of beverages containing caffeine spread throughout the Islamic world, and then in Europe.

There is caffeine powder. It is a fine, white, odorless white powder with a slightly bitter taste. The clean one caffeine powder can be dissolved in any type of liquid, and at normal dosage does not even affect the taste. Excessive amounts of caffeine powder make the drink bitter and not very pleasant to drink. Depending on the condition of the human body, caffeine powder in larger quantities can have a better effect than drinking large amounts of coffee. However, both extremes are not desirable.

Caffeine use

Sources of caffeine are coffee, teas, cocoa, energy drinks, caffeinated candies, stimulant supplements, some chocolates and pastries, as well as most analgesics and stimulants.

The most common use of coffee and other substances containing caffeine is due to the effect of reducing physical fatigue, increased concentration and eliminating drowsiness. Caffeine is one of the few stimulants that has virtually no negative side effects if you don't overdo it. It is freely available as an ingredient in many products around the world. Its solubility in water is not high, but increases sharply with increasing temperature.

Action of caffeine

After ingestion of a beverage containing caffeine or other product with caffeine it takes about 40-60 minutes on the stomach to absorb caffeine, which then spreads throughout the body. For this reason, the effect of caffeine is not instantaneous, but takes some time until it enters the circulatory system and is distributed in the body. Once caffeine enters the circulatory system, it continues to act in the range of 4 to 8 hours. Depending on the amount, as well as the weight, age and general health of a person, this time can vary widely.

After the effect passes, you feel excessive fatigue and drowsiness. Temporary "benefits" disappear and a person may feel more tired and in need of sleep, especially if heavy mental or physical activity has been performed under the influence of caffeine. Caffeine is not a substitute for sleep, experts warn.

As with most other stimulants, regardless of their type and purpose, gradually the human body begins to adapt to caffeine and, accordingly, its effect decreases. This leads to the need to increase the number of coffees or other source of caffeine used in order to achieve the same positive effect.

The time required for the body to adapt to caffeine is quite short, and only within one or two weeks of consumption of 3-4 coffees (300-400 mg of caffeine), the effect of them decreases significantly. It is important to take regular breaks from caffeine intake.

Daily dose of caffeine

According to the Food Standards Agency in the United Kingdom, the dose of 300 mg. caffeine for a day for safe. Other opinions vary in recommendations for a safe dose - between 180 to 450 mg. caffeine per day. It is not recommended to consume more than 1/2 of the safe daily dose within 6-8 hours.

Benefits of caffeine

Caffeine is a direct stimulant of the central nervous system. It has the ability to temporarily suppress drowsiness and increase brain concentration. When it enters the bloodstream through the digestive system, it passes through the liver, where it is metabolized to three major metabolites: paraxanthine (up to 84% of the amount ingested), theobromine (up to 12%) and theophylline (up to 4%).

Thanks to paraxanthine, caffeine stimulates lipolysis, a process of breaking down fat stored in fat cells into fatty acids and glycerol, which enter the bloodstream. Theobromine increases the volume of blood vessels and the volume of urine excreted, ie. also acts as a diuretic. Theophylline soothes the smooth muscles of the bronchi in the lungs and thus facilitates breathing.

Caffeine stimulates the production of epinephrine (adrenaline), increases free energy levels, eliminates the effect of drowsiness and increases alertness, but without replacing sleep. It improves athletic performance and suppresses the feeling of fatigue. Caffeine improves breathing and clears the airways (mainly asthma, bronchitis, cold symptoms and flu). Caffeine increases the effect of painkillers and increases the speed and volume of metabolism. It has a beneficial effect on weight loss by stimulating weight loss, fat burning and water excretion.

Under stress, caffeine increases abilities in stressful situations and coping with negative stimuli. When you don't get enough sleep, caffeine increases concentration and helps memorize information in a stressful environment. Caffeine severely reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes. A study of 126,000 men and women found that people who consumed little or no caffeine were at higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes than those who consumed more caffeinated beverages.

In addition, coffee remains the most popular beverage in the world and drinking a cup of aromatic espresso, cappuccino, milk with instant coffee or other caffeinated beverage is a pleasure for the senses and relaxation for the body.

Harm from caffeine

Frequent use of caffeine can lead to mental and sometimes even physical dependence. Caffeine is considered the most common legal drug (more than alcohol) because it is available freely and uncontrollably to all age groups, including children, making it particularly dangerous. Taking large doses caffeine for long periods of time (more than 4 weeks) can lead to a condition known as caffeine - between a mild and an exacerbated form of caffeine poisoning. It is accompanied by a desire of those affected to take larger doses of caffeine through various products, drinks or tablets.

In addition to caffeine poisoning and caffeine, caffeine-induced insomnia also appears, as well as well-studied but caffeine-related conditions. The use of caffeinated products can lead to gastritis and exacerbation of gastritis and ulcers.

Caffeine is contraindicated for breastfeeding women and women in advanced pregnancy. It should not be confused with painkillers because it is addictive and shifts the exact diagnosis of the patient. According to some experts, caffeine and the energy drinks it contains are life-threatening in combination with alcohol. After mass poisoning of a group of students in the United States who consumed a certain energy drink with a high content of caffeine and alcoholic beverages, the energy drink was discontinued.

Caffeine is generally safe for health, but overdoing it can be fatal. For example, an adult weighing 50-80 kg, the normal "safe" dose of caffeine per day is between 600 and 800 mg (in advanced stages of adaptation can be up to 1 g). Caffeine can be lethal in large doses of about 6-10 g if taken once or for a short period of time.

It is important to note that the action of caffeine depends on the body of a particular person. There are documented cases of serious problems with the cardiovascular system in people who took only 2 g of caffeine. Conditionally, the average dangerous dosage of caffeine, which can lead to serious health problems and even death, is between 150 and 200 mg per kilogram of body weight. For a 60-pound person, this equates to between 9 and 12 grams of caffeine.

Caffeine overdose

The use of caffeine in a form other than a few coffees per day, such as various caffeine tablets, energy drinks and other products containing higher doses of caffeine, including pure caffeine powder, should be in minimal to moderate doses.

Taking 300 to 400 mg of caffeine within 8 hours can lead to an overdose and overstimulation of the central nervous system, called caffeine poisoning. It is accompanied by rapid heartbeat, anxiety, insomnia, euphoria, pain and tickling in the stomach and intestines, diarrhea, frequent urination, excessive muscle tightness in otherwise normal movements, flushing and facial tics. Poisoning is accompanied by general physiological conditions such as awkwardness, loss of thought, irrationality, conflict, mania, depression, lack of orientation, lack of restraint, paranoia, the appearance of illusions and hallucinations and others.

Consumption of ordinary coffee is rarely dangerous, even in large quantities. One cup of strong coffee contains an average of between 50 and 100 mg of caffeine, which makes a critical dosage of caffeine achievable by drinking as much as 50-100 cups of coffee. This ceiling is also reached with several 100-gram packs of nescafe.