Caffeine - the effects of caffeine on the body
Caffeine is one of the mostly widely consumed stimulants in society today. It can be found in numerous beverages including coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cola and energy drinks. Other sources of caffeine include chocolate, products containing cocoa, some prescription and non prescription drugs, as well as, some weight loss tablets and formulas.
The effects of caffeine on the body
Everyone has an individual sensitivity and tolerance level to caffeine. Caffeine is a stimulant that affects the central nervous system as well as the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. It is readily absorbed into the blood stream where its levels peak approximately one hour after consumption. It targets the brain stem and cerebral cortex and causes increased alertness, increased focus and faster and clearer thought. It also stimulates the heart, dilates blood vessels (causing an increase in blood pressure), causes bronchial relaxation (increasing the ability to breathe), increases gastric acid production and increases metabolic rate.
Whilst caffeine can be a great pick-me-up for some, it can cause unpleasant side effects in others. Caffeine is also known to lower the body’s calcium absorption by increasing the amount of calcium lost in urine. It has also been associated with the formation of stomach ulcers due to its ability to increase stomach acid production. The most well known side affect of caffeine is its ability to interfere with the body’s sleep patterns and consumption before bedtime is often linked with insomnia.
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