07/24/2023
Caffeine: friend & foe
😃Caffeine is a natural stimulant most commonly found in tea, coffee, and cacao plants.
It works by stimulating the brain and central nervous system, helping you stay alert and prevent the onset of tiredness.
🤔How does it work?
Once consumed, caffeine is quickly absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream.
That said, caffeine’s main effect is on the brain.
It functions by blocking the effects of adenosine, which is a neurotransmitter that relaxes the brain and makes you feel tired. 🥱
Normally, adenosine levels build up over the day, making you increasingly more tired & causing you to want to go to sleep😴
Caffeine helps you stay awake by connecting to adenosine receptors in the brain without activating them. This blocks the effects of adenosine, leading to reduced tiredness 😃
💥Quick boost: caffeine tends to exert its effects quickly.
The amount found in one cup of coffee can take as little as 20 min to kick in reaching full effect in 1 hr.
Common Caffeine Sources:
Caffeine is most commonly found in coffee, tea, soft drinks, chocolate, energy & pre-workout drinks.
🥳🤓May improve mood and brain function:
Caffeine may improve mood, decrease the likelihood of depression, stimulate brain function (short term).
Caffeine may boost metabolism and promote fat loss, 🤩but these effects are likely to remain small over the long term.😟
👍Consuming small amounts of caffeine about an hour before exercise is likely to improve exercise performance.
☝️Caffeine can have negative side effects in some people, including anxiety, restlessness, and trouble sleeping.
☝️A caffeine intake of 200 mg per dose, and up to 400 mg per day, is generally considered safe. Pregnant women should limit their daily intake to 200 mg or less.
👉How much is in what?
Espresso: 240–720 mg
Coffee: 102–200 mg
Yerba mate: 65–130 mg
Energy drinks: 50–160 mg
Brewed tea: 40–120 mg
Soft drinks: 20–40 mg
Decaffeinated coffee: 3–12 mg
Cocoa beverage: 2–7 mg
Chocolate milk: 2–7 mg
Keep it in check & listen to your body. If you feel jittery, short tempered, anxious or experience insomnia, disrupted sleep...it may be time to cut!