Caffeine is the most widely used drug in the world. It is a potent stimulant and may be consumed in a multitude of forms. These include: coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolates, cold remedies, pain relievers and dozens of other over-the-counter drugs.
Caffeine also is a powerful stimulant to nerve tissues. It affects the higher centers of the brain, producing a wakening effect and a more rapid flow of mental processes. It assists the body in overcoming the sense of fatigue, however, it does not relieve it.
Caffeine Facts:
Two cups of coffee will cause an increase in hydrochloric acid (HCL) in the stomach for at least an hour. This is a problem for anyone suffering from an ulcer or over-acidity problem.
Caffeine slows the rate of healing of stomach ulcers.
One cup of coffee will cause a rise in blood pressure.
Caffeine decreases the body's ability the handle stress.
In pregnant women, caffeine will enter the fetal circulation in the same concentrations as the mothers. May be related to birth defects.
Withdrawal symptoms tend to discourage people from giving up caffeine.
Continued use of caffeine may lead to insomnia, nervousness, restlessness and even tremors.
Caffeine masks fatigue when the body needs to rest.
Caffeine increases respiration rate, urine output and an increase of fatty acids into the bloodstream. However, the fatty acids do not get absorbed by muscle cells. In fact, fat metabolism is ceased until the sympathetic effect is complete. Remember, caffeine activates the sympathetic nervous system. The SNS is a sugar based system. As long the SNS is on sugar becomes the main fuel. Fat is not utilized as a fuel during a SNS response.
Chronic caffeine intake can damage the thyroid gland and cause adrenal exhaustion.
Chronic caffeine can weaken bones. It pulls calcium out of the bones. It also disrupts normal cellular ion levels.
Chronic caffeine will produce the body to hold onto fat. Making you fat. Especially around the abdomin. I can spot a chronic coffee user a mile away. They look like they have a tire around their waist.
If a person wakes up tired and has to resort to drinking a stimulant to wake up, then there is something wrong with their diet or sleep pattern. The body is designed to re-energize itself with appropriate sleep.
To avoid waking up tired:
1. Don't eat carbohydrates before going to sleep. In fact, I wouldn't eat carbs after 7:00 p.m.
2 Eat a complex protein before bed.
3. Don't overtrain at the gym.
4. Get control of your emotions. Try to stay away from chronic sympathetic NS activation.
5. Don't have late night sexual relations. This will disrupt normal sleep patterns.
6. Eat a healthy diet throughout the day. Avoid excessive insulin release.
A trick for insomniacs
Blend together: 1 banana, 1 tbs. honey, 2 cups of warm milk. Drink and good night.
I am amused by the folks that try to convince me that what they do is good. They tell me that caffeine is good, eating chocolate is good, drinking wine is good. I tell them getting rest is good, controlling emotional stress is good, eating brocolli has more antioxidants than their chocolate and wine combined.
But you can put whatever you want into your body-- it's your body not mine.
All I can do is provide you the facts, what you do with the information is up to you.
The only benefit I see with drinking caffeine is for ultra endurance athletes. It has been shown that ingesting caffeine well into a endurance event can actually stimulate a fatiguing sympathetic nervous system. This will boost the body to pull more glycogen out of the muscle's for immediate fuel. This is valuable to a ultra endurance athlete, but for the Starbuck junkie, or weekend warrior type, the value of caffeine is more damaging than good.
You can learn more about caffeine and nutrition in my latest book diet EARTH.
Order it online at www.darylconant.com
tags: caffeine, coffee drinking, nutrition, diet EARTH, Tiger Woods, Economy, strength and conditioning, health, bodybuilding.
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