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What is caffeine?
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Photo courtesy of Puddleduck, Morgufile
Caffeine is a phytochemical found in many plants such as cocoa, coffee, and tea. Breaking it down to its essence, it is C8 H10 N4 O2. This chemical compound is what so many of us are addicted to, crave, and even love. It takes the edge off of an early morning, and leads us into the late hours of the night.
In itself, caffeine is a very bitter substance, called an alkaloid, giving plants a bitter flavor. It acts specifically on the central nervous system, controlling pain and jolting our energy pathways, but it also stimulates blood flow, and opens airways for easier breathing. Caffeine is absorbed into the bloodstream almost immediately, and then remains for about three hours before being completely secreted through the urine. Caffeine doesn't build-up in our bodies, although we can easily create a tolerance, even an addiction, full with withdrawal symptoms such as headaches and irritability.
Is caffeine good? Just like most things in life, the answer is, in moderation. Caffeine is an energy booster. Its actions on the body encourage a greater efficiency of energy production. It also promotes mental clarity by stimulating the production of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that tells the glandular system to release adrenaline into the bloodstream, increasing overall alertness. Caffeine is also an age old drug for weight loss. It supports a process called thermogenesis, which is the conversion of stored body fat into energy.
Despite all this good news, caffeine also does have negative affects, but generally only in excess. Every coffee drinker has experienced too much of a jolt at some point, where it is difficult to relax, the nerves are one edge, and the heart races. It can cause a build up of oxalic acid in the body, which can potentially lead to health problems down the road. It also leaches essential nutrients from the body, the B vitamins (which are necessary for controlling stress), calcium, and potassium.
There is hardly enough reason to give up coffee or tea to avoid caffeine, nor is it reasonable to load up on caffeinated beverages for the positive impact. Don't ignore warning signs of a caffeine overload, but drink what you enjoy, what makes you feel good.
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