You drink beverages with caffeine in the morning. You order a cup of coffee at your favorite local shop when rushing to your office. It has been a tradition to drink caffeinated beverages, but what do you really know about this substance? It is not just a plain ingredient of a coffee, as there are a few things about it that most people do not know. Here are 6 facts to learn regarding caffeine.
Fact 1: It Has Health and Energy Related Benefits
Caffeine primarily stimulates the central nervous system. This makes you keep awake and alert, which is why many people rely on drinking coffee before or at work, and at night time for some who still want to avoid getting easily sleepy.
Researchers also proved that this substance has advantages to the health. It can decrease the risk of certain illnesses, which include cancers and Alzheimer’s disease. It is also a good contributor to enhance the memory and concentration, as well as to boost mental health.
Fact 2: It Has Side Effects
Be aware that too much caffeine is dangerous to the health. It can speed up the beating of your heart, make you feel restless or cannot easily sleep (insomnia). When you are addicted to caffeine and stop consuming, you’d likely experience headaches, mood swings and irritability. A worse situation can happen if you have anxiety disorders or kidney disease.
Fact 3: Amount of Caffeine Varies
Caffeine is usually found in coffee, but not all coffee have the same level or amount. For instance, the decaffeinated coffee is believed to have zero amount of the substance, but that’s not true at all. It still has caffeine but less than the average level. So, it is quite safe to drink decaf if you like to lessen your intake of this substance. But you must not drink more cups, because you may be able to equalize that with 2 to 3 cups of fully caffeinated coffee.
Fact 4: There is Less Caffeine in Dark Roast Coffees
In coffees, there are two types in terms of the amount of caffeine: lighter roasts and dark roasts. Most people think that lighter roasts, which are less strong in flavor, contain more caffeine. That makes dark roasted coffee less in caffeine amount. You may have to change your usual order now that you learn this fact about coffee, or more particularly, caffeine.
In addition, this substance is not just found in coffee beans. There are other plants, about more than 50 of them, that naturally produce caffeine. They are usually found in the seeds, fruits, or leaves. These include cocoa beans, tea leaves, and kola nuts.
Fact 5: It Works Fast in the Body
It takes only a fast several minutes for the caffeine to kick in the body. You’d feel more alert after as early as 10 minutes or up to an hour. But this substance stays in the system for a couple of hours only. But experts suggested that if you want to sleep early and much better, do not drink a cup of coffee or any caffeinated drink during dinner or 5 hours before 9 in the evening.
Fact 6: It is Present in a Few Drinks
You know that coffee is not the only beverage that contains this substance. But if you don’t have any names at all, well this is your chance to know them. You may have no idea that your favorite energy drinks are giving you additional amount of caffeine. In fact, they have almost the same amount of caffeine in coffees, that’s why they are recommended for night drivers, athletes, or any people who need to keep awake. Other beverages that contain caffeine are sodas and teas.
Caffeine has dos and don’ts that’s why it is recommended to take it less frequently and in smaller amounts as much as possible. If you have the habit to drink beverages with this substance, you need to make a bit of change. It can help you in a lot of ways that lead you to improving your health and sleeping much better, which must be a positive outcome to note and accept.
