Caffeine is
a natural food element that can be found in coffee beans, tea leaves and other drinks. Caffeine can also be
made synthetically. It is a stimulant known to help people to stay
awake and focused for longer, without feeling fatigued or tired, has been said to help weight loss and boost the metabolism.
IS CAFFEINE NEEDED
Caffeine is frequently used by people to stimulate them to stay awake for longer
without feeling sleepy, such as when they are driving or studying for exams. However, it can have negative impacts as a
result of continuous use and also cause unpleasant withdrawal
symptoms.
NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE
- Severe
headaches - Caffeine stimulates
the central nervous system in order for an individual to be able to
stay awake and focused for a longer period of time. However, too much
can lead to severe headaches, and even cause hallucinations.
- Heartburn
and stomach problems - Caffeine
has also been linked to heartburn and other stomach problems for
people who have been using it for a long time. This is because it
stimulates the production of excessive amounts of acid.
- High
blood pressure - Caffeine also
increases blood pressure in people who consume it often. When
caffeine is consumed it enters the bloodstream and gets pumped to the
various parts of the body and this brings about an increase in the
blood pressure due to the fact that the heart is always subjected to
more work by the mere presence of caffeine in the bloodstream.
- Increase
foetal heart rate - In pregnant
women, caffeine can bring about an increase in the heart rate of an unborn child.
POSITIVE EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE
- Calorie burning - It is reported that caffeine can increase a process in your body called thermogenesis which is when your body uses energy to digest food and it also produces heat as a by-product.
- Appetite suppression - There is anecdotal evidence to suggest that consuming caffeine helps to suppress the appetite and therefore reduce what you eat each day.
- Increased metabolism - Caffeine can help to break down your fat stores which are used to provide energy for your body, and thus helps to boost your metabolism.
HOW T O USE CAFFEINE EFFECTIVELY
The above
are just some of the effects of caffeine but you can improve your use
of caffeine to minimise the negative side effects:
- Consume
caffeine in small quantities throughout the course of the day. This
will help your body make effective use as
there won’t be in incidence of having too much caffeine in your
bloodstream at a particular point in time.
- Ensure
that you have eaten well before consuming caffeinated drinks. This
will also help to ensure that your body has the required amount of
food nutrients so that the heart will also get enough energy to keep
pumping blood and oxygen without putting additional pressure on it.
- Drink
plenty of water before your coffee drink: This helps to keep the
caffeine well diluted within your body so that its ability to cause
the body to release excess acid will also be reduced. This will help
you to avoid stomach problems that may arise as a result of the
excess acid .
Caffeine can have both negative and positive benefits, depending on how and how often you use it. Another example is of athletes who use it in training and racing in order to sustain a higher level of exertion for a longer period of time and therefore improve their performance. It has to be used wisely though, as overdosing is common and some of the negative effects above are experienced by inexperienced athletes.
Warning: Those who are pregnant or have any heart related problems should avoid caffeine due to the potential dangerous side effects.