I love my morning cup of coffee. I love it so much, I have it agian in the afternoon and then in the evening, too. People tell me I drink too much of it. Well, maybe a little. I started to wonder what was so bad about drinking a few extra cups of Joe every day. As I found out, it mostly comes down to the caffeine.
Caffeine (C8H10N4O2) is an odourless, white alkaloid powder with a bitter taste. Caffeine, which is present in a variety of plants including coffee, tea and cacao is what gives us that nice little buzz when we have a cup of coffee. Basically, caffeine is an alkaloid from the xanthine family of compounds. Caffeine acts as a stimulator of the nervous system causing the heart to beat faster and leading to feelings of increased energy, well being and mental focus.
Basically caffeine works by blocking the brain’s adenosine receptors. Adenosine is a neurotransmitter chiefly involved in promoting sleep. Because caffeine and adenosine look almost exactly alike, the caffeine blocks your brain’s adenosine receptors. So, instead of slowing down, surrounding synapses speed up and keep you from getting tired. This increased activity also causes the adrenal glands to produce more adrenaline which adds to caffeine’s stimulating effect.
So, is caffeine good or bad? On the one hand, caffeine does have some medical benefits. But on the other it is an addictive stimulant and can lead to a variety of health problems. So let’s start with some of its benefits. In small amounts caffeine stimulates production of stomach acids, aiding in digestion. The kidneys respond to caffeine by producing urine, making it an effective diuretic. Because caffeine relaxes the muscles of our lungs and helps dilate their bronchioles caffeine can help ease asthma symptoms.
Caffeine dilates the blood vessels feeding the heart, increasing blood flow which can be helpful for people with low blood pressure. It also constricts blood vessels in the head, thus helping ease headaches. Caffeine also helps boost the effectiveness of some drugs. Which is why you’ll see caffeine as an ingredient in weight control pills, pain relievers as well as cold and allergy medicine.
On the flip side, since caffeine acts as a diuretic, excess intake can lead to dehydration. Excess consumption can cause vitamins and minerals including iron and calcium to be leeched from the body. Over consumption can cause palpitations, shaky hands and feelings of nervousness and anxiety. In men, excess caffeine use can leave you at risk for urinary and prostate problems.
Over the years medical studies have been performed investigating caffeine’s effects on our health. It’s known for example, it only takes about 150mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight to make a lethal dose. Excess caffeine intake can lead to greater risk of hypertension. Caffeine also stimulates the excretion of stress hormones which can lead to increased anxiety, irritability and insomnia.
If any of this concerns you, there are ways to check your caffeine consumption. First, consult your physician. Your doctor can tell you if you’re getting too much caffeine and what its risks are. Second, check the labels on beverages. Pick sodas with less or no caffeine. Drinking decaffeinated coffee is also an obvious choice. If you don’t want to give up coffee’s stimulating effect entirely make your own half caffeinated coffee. Just buy your favorite coffee and mix it half and half with a package of decaf. Just remember, everything in moderation. If you don’t go overboard with your caffeine consumption, potential health risks can be reduced.
