HARMFULL EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE

Caffeine is the most common drug used in today’s world as it acts as Central nervous system  stimulant. It helps to increase wakefulness, improve concentration and focus and alleviate fatigue. Intake of caffeine in moderate amount is helpful however high consumption of caffeine  may cause harm to the body.

Caffeine is a bitter white crystalline purine with chemical name 1,3,7 tri-methylxanthine . It takes 45 minutes to absorb after consumption and peaks in the blood between 15 minutes to 2 hours.

Consuming caffeine in form of beverage gets absorbed quickly and it is able to cross into the brain thus providing quick boost of energy when drank empty stomach.

It gets broken down mainly in liver. It remains for 1.5 to 9.5 hours in blood depending on various factors. Person tends to develop tolerance with regular intake of caffeine which reduce caffeine’s stimulant effects unless  high amount is not consumed.

MECHANISUM OF ACTION :

• CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM : It is a antagonist of adenosine A2A receptors  and this produce the wake-fullness -promoting effect.
• RENAL SYSTEM : Caffeine has diuretic effects because of its stimulatory effects of renal blood flow thus increase in sodium excretion and glomerular filtration.
• CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM : By inhibiting adenosine receptors it promotes catecholamine release that has vaso-constricting effects which raise systolic blood pressure in individual.

Source of caffeine :

Caffeine is naturally present in leaves , fruit and seeds of in some  species of plants. Some of the common sources are

• Tea leaves and buds
• Coffee beans
• Cacoa beans
• Dola nuts
• Guarana seeds

HARMFUL EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION :

High caffeine intake has many potential harmful effects on body of individual. Some of them are :

• Stomach disorders : Acids present in caffeine  stimulates the producing of more acids in stomach and gastro-intestinal motility. Too much caffeine intake can cause stomach disorders like cramps, nausea, bloating and diarrhea in individuals.
• Induce anxiety : Caffeine bind with mutated A2a gene in certain individuals and interfere with anxiety regulation. It triggers the fight or flight response of the body so the person mind is on high alert. Person suffering from anxiety disorder may get anxiety attack with consumption of caffeine.
• Cause Insomnia : Individual consuming caffeine to increase wakefulness can sometimes interfere with the sleep cycle. Person may have hard time falling asleep or may not get restorative and restful sleep.
• Restlessness : Excessive intake of caffeine leads to psychomotor agitation thus making it difficult to calm the body and mind . People may experience rambling flow of thought and speech leading to restlessness.
• Muscle twitching: Caffeine has stimulants that cause contraction of muscles and slow down the time needed for relaxation of muscles. Consuming excessive caffeine can cause twitching of the muscles in hands and legs.
• Diuresis : Caffeine has stimulating effect on bladder muscles thus increase urgency and frequency of urination thus leads to development of urine incontinence.
• Heart conditions : Caffeine increase the total cholesterol , triglycerides and low-density lipoproteins thus increasing the risk of development of heart diseases.
• May cause osteoporosis : Caffeine hinds with the calcium absorption, Metabolism and elimination in body. This disruption can contributes to the development of certain bone diseases like osteoporosis. Caffeine also reduce the bone mineral density thus increasing the risk of fracture.
• Diabetes : Caffeine stimulates the body cells response to insulin thus causing low absorption of sugar from blood to cells . Low adsorption leads to increase in Blood sugar level which is not good sign for individual with diabetes.
• High blood pressure : Caffeine has vaso-dilating property thus consumption of caffeine by Hypertension patient can increase the blood pressure.
• Glaucoma : Caffeine may increase the fluid pressure inside the eye. Increased  pressure start within 30 minutes of consumption and lasts for at least 90 Minutes.

ALTERNATIVE DRINKS FOR CAFFEINE

• Herbal tea : Most herbal teas are free from caffeine thus they helps to enhance energy levels in body by aiding in sleep, keeping calm and supporting gut health.
• Protein Shakes : You can swap caffeine with protein shakes to maintain energy levels throughout the day even on the busiest day.
• A Glass of water : Dehydration can effect mood and cause fatigue in person. So to keep body hydrated and relieve fatigue try drinking a glass of water
• Pomegranate juice: It is helpful to increase the blood circulation of the body and relieve muscle fatigue thus keeps a person active throughout the day.

HERBS AS SUBSTITUTE FOR CAFFEINE :

There many herbal substitute for caffeine which have additional health benefits :

• Vidarikand : It is a ayurvedic herb which contain phytochemicals like daidzein, genistein and puetuberosanol that helps to improve the alterness of mind and body. Its effects starts to fade within 1-1.5 hours depending on quality after consumption thus can replace caffeine for energy and wakefulness.
• Ashwagandha : It is a potent adaptogen that helps the body to minimize stress and enable the body to sustain and reserve vital energy throughout the day without affecting the sleep .
• Shatavari : It is a rejuvenating herb that helps to strengthen and nourish the body and mind of individual.