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Whether you drink a cup of green tea or indulge in a cappuccino, you are consuming caffeine. When you are trying to start your day, a caffeine pick-me-up is the way to go.
But what exactly is caffeine and why does it make you alert and raring to go? Caffeine is actually a phytonutrient compound that stimulates your body’s central nervous system by blocking the adenosine receptors that slow neural activity, according to mindbodygreen. Indulging in too much caffeine can make you jittery and unable to sleep but in smaller doses, caffeine contains a host of health benefits.
You can control the amount of caffeine by using a milder coffee, by removing your teabag and not letting it steep or too long, and by not overindulging in dark chocolate. So think moderation, and reap these seven health benefits of caffeine.
Helps support focus
Caffeine helps you focus and stay alert. That’s because besides blocking adenosine, the substance also helps to produce adrenaline (the flight or fight hormone). Just a 75-mg serving of caffeine can increase your alertness, reported Medical News Today, and 160 to 600-mgs may improve your mental alertness as well as your reasoning capabilities.
Could improve memory
Consuming caffeine can also help your memory. A 2021 review of studies published in the journal Nutrients found that the effects of caffeine vary depending on a person’s age, gender, and how they metabolize caffeine. Drinking coffee has been shown to help slow down age-related cognitive decline.
Good for brain health
Caffeine aids overall brain health, according to mindbodygreen. That’s because it contains antioxidants that combat free radicals, promote overall cell health, as well as brain function. “Caffeine is actually multitasking on our behalf when it comes to brain benefits. Research demonstrates its multidimensional abilities to sustain attention and improve alertness, enhance problem solving and creativity, fuel mental alertness, and even elevate mood,” said Ashley Jordan Ferira, Ph.D., RDN, mindbodygreen’s vice president of scientific affairs.
Helps reduce pain
Combining caffeine with pain relievers like aspirin or acetaminophen, is an effective way to help relieve pain from migraines, according to WebMD. In fact, the FDA approved the use of caffeine in medications for migraines and tension headaches. Caffeine has also been approved for oral and IV treatments for headache pain following surgery
Could reduce stroke risk
Drinking more than one cup of caffeinated coffee every day could reduce your risk of having a stroke. A study of 34,670 women in Sweden who did not have a history of heart disease found that the participants who drank more than one cup of coffee a day had a 22-25-percent lower risk of stroke than participants who consumed less.
Helps boost exercise performance
Whether you love to do intensive workouts at the gym, or prefer to take a brisk walk through your neighborhood, this one's for you. That’s because caffeine contains ergogenic acid that activates adrenaline, according to mindbodygreen. This could up your energy level, and exercise performance
Good for your eyes
Caffeine is also good for your eyes, according to the retirement organization AARP. Caffeine could help prevent cataracts. That’s because the antioxidants in caffeine help to counter the effects of UV light on your eyes. These same antioxidants may also help to slow down or prevent retinal damage due to aging.
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