Caffeine: the more you consume the greater the effect it has on you

BY STEVEN KASZAB

The world is addicted to coffee in so many forms, good thing for those of us lacking energy in the morning. Caffeine can affect you for over six hours, but the body does not store it. The more you consume the greater the effect it has on you, your mood and stress levels.

• 50 million Americans drink coffee daily and one billion people drink it world-wide on a daily basis
• 112 million Americans begin their day consuming Coca Cola or Pepsi as an alternative to coffee
• The average American spends $1,098.00 a year on coffee
• Two out of three Canadians have a daily coffee beverage, with some stats claiming 75% of Canadians enjoy a cup of daily coffee
• The height of consumption of caffeine products 1.Brazil 2. America 3 Canada 4 Japan 5. Australia

Caffeine affects your body responses, often making it difficult to sleep, sit still, or concentrate well. It gets worse as you age. Caffeine can be found not just in tea and coffee, but also a slew of items such as: chocolate, energy drinks and other pre-packed foods and drinks.

In Japan, a manufacturer puts caffeine into their water products, as a source of a needed pick me up. Caffeine can cause a number of problems should someone overindulge. It can: elevate heart rate, cause headaches, make you pee constantly and raise your blood pressure. Caffeine might cause your body to release more adrenaline or hormones than are needed. Women who experience menopause may find that caffeine worsens the situation since caffeine can make their body heat increase, causing hot flashes.

Caffeine can assist your body, helping to prevent: gallstones, inflammation and keep certain illnesses away, such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s. Caffeine has been found to assist those involved in endurance sports such as biking, running and swimming, by helping them increase their speed with less muscle pain. Ultimately caffeine has been found to help the body recover rapidly after a hard exercise regimen.

Caffeine has been studied world-wide looking for benefits that would assist us all:

• Chinese scientist found people given caffeine show a major boost to their productivity
• Belgian studies found benefits to fighting melanoma cancer, and its protective properties for the liver
• America-Canadian studies find caffeine may help longevity of life and reduced risk of type 2-diabetes
• Scandinavian studies found a correlation between caffeine and mental illnesses

Too much coffee (or soft drinks) can heighten: anxiety, bring on insomnia, create a link between coffee and breast pain, aging of your skin, stained teeth and overall dependence upon caffeine.

What to do? Consume less drinks and foods that contain caffeine (sugar too), hydrate with good old fashion H2O, exercise and find time to rest. Try not to go cold turkey. Consume half a cup, or perhaps try decaf.