| Caffeine is considered the most commonly used | | | | 6. Caffeine affects your heart's health. Because |
| psychoactive drug in the world. It is estimated that | | | | caffeine acts as a stimulant, it increases pulse and |
| approximately 80% of the world's population | | | | blood pressure. It also contributes to the development |
| consumes caffeine on a daily basis. The most | | | | of heart disease because caffeine increases |
| common dietary sources of caffeine are coffee, soda, | | | | cholesterol levels as well as a chemical called |
| tea, and chocolate. After ingesting caffeine, it is | | | | homocysteine, which has been linked to heart attacks. |
| completely absorbed within 30 to 45 minutes and then | | | | 7. Caffeine affects your stomach acid. Caffeine |
| its effects diminish within about three hours. As many | | | | causes your stomach to produce extra hydrochloric |
| caffeine drinkers can attest, when you ingest high | | | | acid (HCL), which creates an increased risk for ulcers, |
| levels of caffeine, you may feel your mood soar and | | | | heartburn, and gastro-esophageal reflux. |
| then plummet, leaving you craving more caffeine to | | | | 8. Caffeine accelerates aging. Caffeine contributes to |
| make it soar again. While caffeine is eventually | | | | the decline in production of hormones produced in |
| excreted so there is no accumulation in the body, it has | | | | abundance during youth - DHEA, melatonin, and others |
| been shown to adversely affect mood, stamina, stress | | | | - which speeds the aging process. Because caffeine |
| levels, the cardiovascular system, and gastric health, to | | | | dehydrates the body, skin loses water from its cells, |
| name a few. | | | | causing wrinkling and sagging. |
| 10 Consequences of Caffeine Consumption | | | | 9. Caffeine affects normal sleep patterns. Because it is |
| 1. Caffeine is highly addictive. Like other drugs, caffeine | | | | a stimulant, caffeine keeps you awake longer, thereby |
| causes a chemical addiction within the brain. Quitting | | | | shortening the amount and the quality of sleep each |
| coffee or soda can create withdrawal symptoms - | | | | night, which takes a toll on your level of alertness the |
| headaches, sleepiness, irritability, anxiety - while the | | | | next day and overall health. Because of sleep |
| brain's chemistry readjusts. | | | | deprivation and fatigue, a person might look to caffeine |
| 2. Caffeine exacerbates mood disorders in adults and | | | | for a boost, thereby perpetuating the vicious cycle. |
| children. Mood disturbances such as anxiety, | | | | 10. Caffeine increases the risk for male and female |
| depression, irritability, and attention disorders are | | | | health problems. Studies show that caffeine increases |
| aggravated by chronic caffeine consumption. Rather | | | | the risk for prostate and urinary problems in men. In |
| than increasing mental activity as many caffeine | | | | women, fibrocystic breast disease, PMS, osteoporosis, |
| drinkers believe, caffeine actually decreases blood | | | | infertility problems, miscarriage, low birth weight infants, |
| flow to the brain by as much as 30% and negatively | | | | and menopausal problems such as hot flashes are |
| impacts memory and mental performance. Mood | | | | aggravated by caffeine. |
| disturbances may appear after the stimulant effect of | | | | Kick the Caffeine Habit |
| caffeine wears off - often about three hours later | | | | Weaning yourself off of caffeine requires patience |
| prompting many to consume more caffeine - and they | | | | and perseverance, just like detoxifying from any other |
| may also appear during the recovery period after | | | | drug addiction. While some people can successfully quit |
| quitting caffeine. | | | | by eliminating caffeine all at once, most people will |
| 3. Caffeine increases stress. Caffeine stimulates the | | | | need to gradually reduce the amount of caffeine they |
| secretion of stress hormones - cortisol (adrenaline) | | | | consume in order to minimize suffering from |
| from the adrenal glands - which can increase levels of | | | | withdrawal symptoms. |
| anxiety, irritability, muscular tension, indigestion, insomnia, | | | | * Here is an example of a gradual schedule: 3 cups of |
| and decreased immunity. Continued stimulation of the | | | | coffee or soda per day in the first week; 2 per day |
| adrenal glands can ultimately lead to adrenal | | | | during the second; 1 during the third; and none during |
| exhaustion, which leaves a person vulnerable to a | | | | the fourth. |
| variety of health problems including autoimmune and | | | | *Another strategy is to gradually replace coffee with |
| inflammatory disorders. Because of chronically | | | | decaf: During the first week, when you make your |
| increased stress hormone levels, caffeine consumption | | | | coffee, use 3/4 regular and 1/4 decaf; the second |
| can render some incapable of making healthy | | | | week, use 1/2 and 1/2; the third week, use 1/4 regular |
| responses to the stressful situations that occur in their | | | | and 3/4 decaf; the fourth week, you're drinking decaf! |
| daily lives. | | | | * If you are a soda drinker, you can gradually replace |
| 4. Caffeine accelerates bone loss. Caffeine causes | | | | your soda with sparkling water and/or caffeine-free |
| the urinary excretion of calcium, magnesium, potassium, | | | | soda. |
| iron, and trace minerals, which can lead to | | | | * Whatever strategy you choose, it is important to |
| osteoporosis. | | | | drink plenty of water and to get plenty of sleep to |
| 5. Caffeine contributes to blood sugar problems. | | | | assist with the detoxification process. |
| Caffeine stimulates a temporary surge in blood sugar | | | | Because caffeine consumption is so commonplace, it |
| creating a quick burst of energy; however, increased | | | | is easy to become complacent about the potential |
| blood sugar triggers an insulin spike, which ultimately | | | | health hazards. However, given the mounting research, |
| causes a sugar crash within hours. This blood sugar | | | | it is important to 'wake up' to the hidden dangers your |
| rollercoaster can contribute to diabetes, hypoglycemia, | | | | morning coffee creates. Make a positive choice for |
| and weight gain because insulin triggers the body to | | | | your health and kick the caffeine habit today! |
| store excess sugar as fat. | | | | |