Stephen Duncan

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Is caffeine good or bad for you? Some love it, others would say to avoid it. Up to 80-90% of adults ingest caffeine every day. Should you? 

Let’s talk about what caffeine is, how it affects the body, and whether or not it’s good or bad for you. There are definitely some people who should avoid it, and typical symptoms to look out for to see if that’s you. 

What is caffeine?

Caffeine is a stimulant that is naturally found in many foods and drinks. It’s found in: 

  • A cup of coffee (100-200 mg caffeine);  
  • A cup of black tea (40-120 mg); 
  • A cup of decaf coffee (3-12 mg); and,  
  • An ounce of dark chocolate (5-35 mg).  

Caffeine is also available as a supplement, and is added to some soft drinks (20-40 mg) and energy drinks (50-160 mg). It’s even in some medications as well. 

How does it affect the body? 

Caffeine’s main effect is on the brain. It boosts alertness and focus. Caffeine can also improve moods, increase metabolism and improve exercise performance. It does these by blocking the “adenosine receptors” in our brain. After being absorbed by the gut caffeine is broken down by the liver. Adenosine is a relaxation compound, and caffeine blocks its effects. These stimulant effects of caffeine can be felt within 20-60 minutes after ingestion.  

Your body can build up tolerance to it as well. So, within a few days of regular consumption, you need more to get the same effect. This is true for its stimulating and dehydrating effects. These effects reduce over time of continued caffeine intake.  

Caffeine is also addictive. Some withdrawal symptoms include headaches, shakiness/jitters, and nausea. 

Is caffeine good or bad? 

This really depends on the person.  

There are certain groups of people who should avoid too much caffeine. They are; 

  • Pregnant women; 
  • People with irregular heart beats; 
  • People who have difficulty sleeping; and, 
  • Children and adolescents. 

In terms of metabolism, people metabolise caffeine at different rates. Some people are fast metabolisers, while others are slow. There can be up to 40x difference between how fast/slow different people metabolise caffeine. Fast metabolisers can feel the energy boost, and all the effects are finished in a few hours. Slow metabolisers can get jittery, anxious feelings, and have trouble sleeping many hours after ingesting the caffeine. 

Look out for effects of caffeine on your body. Some common ones are: 

  • Restlessness and anxious feelings; 
  • Irregular heartbeat; 
  • Increased blood pressure; 
  • Difficulty sleeping; 
  • Increase in anxious feelings; 
  • Heartburn; 
  • Headaches or migraines. 

If none of these bother you, then up to 400 mg/day may be fine.  

Not to mention that many caffeinated drinks contain a lot of sugar and sometimes other ingredients you may want to avoid. This is something else to consider when deciding if/how much caffeine is right for you. 

Conclusion

Caffeine is the most popular natural stimulant. It’s found in many foods and drinks, most commonly in coffee, tea and chocolate. It’s also added to soft drinks, energy drinks and some supplements and medications. 

Some people should avoid too much caffeine; while up to 400 mg/day may be fine in others. Caffeine affects different people differently. If you have any of the common side effects after you have some, then consider reducing your intake. 

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