The Morning cuppa jo’. The first thing many people think about before beginning a long, and energy-consuming day. Good thing that coffee is slammed packed full of caffeine, to keep that motor going ay?
Throughout current society, caffeine is considered the most used, and the most widely accepted psychoactive drug available for consumption. In fact, we are so used to the consumption of this drug, that many juveniles and members of the youth are reliant on caffeine, as it is added to carbonated drinks and sweets.
Well home much does this little molecule actually affect our bodies and how does the old grey matter cope, when you’ve smashed 8 coffees, because they are just oh so darn yum, or you’re about to pull an all-nighter and finish off the overdue work!
Once you have had that morning cup of coffee, the caffeine contained is quickly absorbed by the gut and is passed into the bloodstream for transport. Once reaching the brain, it has two main effectors- It prevents cells from signaling that you are tired, and it causes your body to release other natural stimulants that boost the natural effects of the caffeine present.
It is able to exert this effect due to the geometric 3D shape of the molecule, closely resembling that of adenosine a large signaling molecule used in general metabolic actions (the process of converting stored energy, into useable energy), and is responsible for preventing the feeling of alertness and focus. Caffeine can then bind to these adenosine receptor sites in the brain, in turn, this prevents the production of the feeling of tiredness, and the release of molecules like dopamine, the feel-good molecule! So basically, if you want the feeling of exercise without all that faff and sweat, well……grab another cuppa!
Think of it as a Lego house being built with blue bricks, Caffeine is a block that can fit and to finish the house. It is 99% identical, yet the brick is green, so the final house is only the slightest bit different, causing a differing outcome. This is how that little espresso or latte prevents you from nodding off in that meeting, or how you keep your eyes open, on the drive to work on those frosty winter mornings!
However, just like all drugs, the body can become physically dependent. Brain cells being to produce more adenosine receptors, in response to the blocked receptors by the caffeine molecules. The higher number of receptors requires a larger amount of caffeine to get the same “fix”.
The removal of caffeine from a system used to it, leaves large amounts of receptors unbound, and leads to physical withdrawal effects, such as leaving you feeling more tired than before. So you do have to be aware that, coffee as much as we all love it, can become a problem for people.
However, it’s reassuring to know though that we can all consume coffee without fear of our hearts giving out, because good news, coffee gives your heart a big old bolstering! Daily consumption of caffeine can lead to a physical dependency of the body, but possible more concerning is the behavioral addiction of drinking the coffee, each and every day. Many experts such as Steven Meredith suggest it is the behavioral aspect, such as the social environment in which coffee is consumed is as important as the physical dependency.
For those who reduce daily in-take, after being a regular consumer can induce withdrawal effects such as headaches and drowsiness. This can occur with a drop of as little as 100mg less than regular consumption and can occur as little as 10-20 hours after the last caffeine dose.
Increases in exercise factor, due to caffeine absorption are notable side effects. Caffeine has been shown to increase the tolerance of your muscles! This means you can, in fact, exercise longer without feeling as tired. So maybe next time you’re off to the gym, or a run, before you hit the pre work out, why not try a small espresso instead? might just give you the same rush, without all those unnatural chemicals, and refined sugar? You know keep it as natural as possible to get back to that primal workout.
Recent research conducted by Dr Panza has shown revealed regular consumption of caffeine has been shown to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, as it improves the overall alertness of the patient, seen in recall and reaction tests. Studies such as Meta-analysis by Dr. Wang have shown lower levels of suicidal thoughts, and depression irregular coffee drinkers.
Be warned though, this isn’t a free for all to start drinking 10 or 11 cups, as experts warn consuming this much coffee could lead to addiction and can actually increase heart disease rates. Dr. Pelligrino has shown that caffeine can have an effect on hemodynamic of the brain, (how the blood moves around it). On top of this increased vasoconstriction as a result of caffeine deprivation can cause serious issues at the Blood-brain barrier (A vital mechanism for healthy brain function).
so, it’s all about moderation and just keeping yourself, all topped up, not totally bloated!
So next time you go to refill your cup just think, is this the 3rd today? How much caffeine am I currently processing, and how longs it going take to wear off?
If its 2 am you’ve had 4 in the last 2 hours you probably still have around 50 mg of caffeine that hasn’t worn of or been metabolized. That’s a whole cup just sitting around waiting to spark off another energy reserve and undoubtedly keep you up for another 3 hours!
But hey If those 4 coffees a day are going to give me a better chance of staving off those neurological diseases, and actually being able to remember how many I’ve had, then you can count on me to be having my supersized mugs from now on.