Part 34 - The Good, the Bad and the Caffeinated
What Caffeine Really Does to Your Body
A very energetic hello to all you readers! My current energetic mood is entirely due to the large jug of coffee that has made its way into me this morning. Having recently received a rather sexy coffee machine, I became conscious of the potential dangers that might ensue. Therefore this month I intend to focus on the highs and lows of caffeine consumption.
Story Highlights
- The Basics
- The Mostly Good Effects
- Addiction
- Will Caffeine Make Me Thin?
- Cheers
The Basics
As I am sure all of you know, caffeine belongs to a category of drugs known as stimulants. The extent of its effects depends very much on the consumer. For the record regular caffeine consumers constitute a whopping 80 per cent of the population … of the world! This may surprise you at first but we mustn't forget the many natural sources of the drug, which are far more plentiful that tea leaves, coffee beans and cocoa beans alone. Then there are the manufactured sources - such as energy drinks, soft drinks, confectionary and many medicines. But what constitutes a normal caffeine intake and what are the risks?
The Mostly Good Effects
The stimulating effects of this drug are known to manifest themselves in mood, stamina, the cerebral vascular system and gastric, and colonic activity. All are enhanced but only in the short term. Less than an hour after the consumption of caffeine the full extent of these effects will be reached and within three hours they begin to fade. An important fact to note is that no caffeine is retained in the body and the more water you drink the faster the caffeine leaves your body.
On a more serious note it is often thought that the stimulating effects of caffeine may contribute to the risk of heart disease, especially in relation to the increased stress levels. Research however has shown no such long-term link - not surprising given the timescale on which the body processes this drug.
In fact the opposite was shown, namely that regular caffeine intake can in the long term, reduce the risk of heart disease. Oddly this fact is much more apparent in older generations. Could this be linked to the typical source of caffeine? Certainly tea and coffee are not linked to elevated blood pressure or heart arrhythmias - whereas soft drinks are. Also it has been shown that modern, decaffeinated tea and coffee do not provide the same benefits. Could it be that tea and coffee drinkers are exercising the heart?
A note of caution though before we get carried away on a caffeine high. Research has shown that a caffeine intake of 300mg or more a day may increase bone loss in later life. Potential links with osteoporosis are not known but the research into this is ongoing.
On another point - I'm sure all you information savvy readers have terrified yourselves with articles linking caffeine to cancer. The good news is that there is no evidence to date to validate this link - whatsoever. Phew!
Addiction
So is caffeine addictive? Well the jury's still out on that one. The trouble is somewhat enhanced by the variety of meanings when it comes to the word addiction. Some may say that TV programmes are addictive but that doesn't mean viewers should be carted off to re-hab.
This point is illustrated by personal experience. I think coffee is wonderful! The wake-up feeling yes, but also the taste, the smell, the warmth on a really cold day, the company in a coffee shop and the way it goes so wonderfully with blueberry muffins. If I ever really feel like a coffee then I'm sorry guys but an energy drink is no substitute.
Sadly there is another point of view. The presence of withdrawal symptoms, often in the form of headaches, lethargy and even depression are often used to argue the case that caffeine is addictive. But short of a planet wide grumpiness if caffeine isn't consumed in the morning, is there a genuine case for addiction? Really.
Will Caffeine Make Me Thin?
This is a really quick section. If you have caffeine products loaded with sugar they will make you fat. If you have a lot of caffeine at once it will make you need the toilet - hence you will be lighter. Please remember however that this is not fat loss and you must replace the lost fluids.
The only way caffeine can help you lose weight is if you replace a calorific snack with a cup of unsweetened coffee or tea. It satisfies the psychological need to put something in your mouth and had a minimal calorific impact. Simple!
Cheers
I hope this month's instalment of Backpacker Bites has helped you put your caffeine consumption in context. More than anything else I hope I've convinced you that you can enjoy a guilt-free cup of coffee, once in a while.
- David Haw
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