Are you a caffeine drinker? If yes, this email is for you.Today we are diving into the science behind caffeine – how it works and the benefits and drawbacks of caffeine use.
What is Caffeine?
Caffeine is a natural stimulant most commonly found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and certain energy drinks and supplements. It works by blocking adenosine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that promotes relaxation and sleepiness, which helps increase alertness, focus, and energy levels.
Benefits of Caffeine
Due to the stimulating effects, caffeine is widely used to enhance mental and physical performance. It has been proven to:
- improve peak power
- improve peak cycling power
- improve alertness, vigilance and cognitive performance
- improve reaction time
However, it’s important to note that daily caffeine use can lead to tolerance, meaning the body becomes less responsive to its effects. Over time, the same amount of caffeine provides less of an energy or performance boost, leading to a plateau in benefits. To maintain its effectiveness, it can help to limit daily use or save caffeine for times when you need an extra boost.
Drawbacks of Caffeine
It is important to note that caffeine has some adverse side effects, including:
- anxiety
- jitteriness
- sleep disturbance
These can interfere with your daily routine. Although it has been shown that taking the supplement L-Theanine with caffeine can decrease the jitter effect of caffeine. So if you find caffeine making you extra jittery, try taking L-Theanine with it and see if your jitters calm down!
Key Takeaways and Extra Information
So lets review the key takeaways we learned today:
- Caffeine enhances performance, alertness, and focus
- Tolerance develops with daily use
- Cognitive and mood benefits are most noticeable during fatigue
- Moderate intake is safe and not dehydrating
- Individual responses vary
Caffeine is not all bad, in fact, its actually good (in moderation)! Have questions? Email info@lpfit.ca
