Caffeine is the most commonly used stimulant worldwide. It is available both naturally from sources such as coffee, tea and cocoa , and as an additive to some soft and energy drinks, as well as in medicines, foods and other products.
A number of studies on this substance have shown that its consumption can be beneficial to the body, but it is also risky, especially in cases where it is excessive.
Caffeine is a substance that can be found naturally in coffee beans, tea leaves, cola nuts and cocoa pods. It has no smell and has an extremely bitter taste . Researchers believe that plants are beginning to produce caffeine as a defense mechanism - so that they are not eaten because of the bitterness.
Its effect can be observed 15 minutes after it enters the blood, stomach and small intestine. Caffeine blocks the action of adenosine, a substance in the brain that is associated with sleep . Because caffeine resembles adenosine to the nerve cell , it binds to adenosine receptors. This causes the blood vessels to constrict.
Caffeine also leads to the synthesis of adrenaline, as a result of which muscles contract , heart rate speeds up and blood pressure levels rise. These effects wear off within a few hours.
Low doses of caffeine are associated with improved mood , well-being, energy, alertness. Regular consumption of caffeine can lead to addiction, which significantly reduces the effects on the body. Eventually we begin to feel the need for coffee in the morning to get rid of the feeling of drowsiness and fatigue .