Unbelievable: The Effects of Caffeine

Coffee is a hell of a drug…

Caffeine is probably the most widely used drug in the world.

It is mainly consumed in the form of coffee but also in energy drinks, coke or tea. Let’s take a look at what psychoactive substance has to offer.

What effects does caffeine have on the human body?

In my own experience, caffeine has a performance-enhancing effect. Both physically and mentally. After a cup of coffee, I feel better during training, and it also makes studying and writing much easier for me.

It is common practice among endurance athletes to take caffeine before competitions, as this reduces the perceived exertion. For example, caffeine does not affect lactate formation at a certain running pace. Nevertheless, it makes runners faster in competition, as maintaining the same pace is perceived as less painful.

From my own experience as an endurance athlete, I can confirm this effect.

Caffeine keeps you awake

That’s probably not new to you. But how exactly?

Caffeine reaches the brain very quickly and can thus unfold its effect in the central nervous system, as it can cross the blood-brain barrier without any problem.

Since caffeine is very similar to the chemical structure of the messenger substance adenosine, it acts as a wake-up stimulant. Adenosine has the task of signaling fatigue to the body. Due to its similar structure, caffeine blocks the adenosine receptors to prevent the feeling of tiredness.

It enhances drive, concentration, and attention

Caffeine also increases the release of the happiness hormone dopamine as well as the production of the stress hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline. This improves drive, concentration, and attention.

Increased fat Burning

Caffeine has been shown to support fat burning. A black coffee before exercise can work wonders. Also, the heat production in the body and the blood pressure is increased and the metabolism is boosted. There are not many natural substances that have this effect.

Enjoying the delicious espresso while losing weight?

Doesn’t sound bad to me.

Caffeine has moved mankind forward

I recently saw an interesting conversation between Joe Rogan and the journalist and nutrition expert Michael Pollan, in which Pollan makes a bold but very interesting claim:

Caffeine contributed to the enlightenment, the age of reason, and the industrial revolution.

So his claim is that caffeine makes us so more powerful and productive that it is responsible for major breakthroughs for all of humanity.

The Downsides

Besides the mentioned numerous positive effects, caffeine also has some negative ones that must be mentioned, of course.

Caffeine decreases the quality of our sleep and it can be addictive. In excessive doses, it can lead to other physical problems.

Pollan, however, is quite relaxed about the side effects. He says in an interview with Rogan that coffee contributes more to your health than it harms it.

With regard to addiction, he offers the following food for thought:

Is it really that bad to be dependent on a drug that you have easy access to, that you can afford, and that gives you some benefits?

Here is the link to the mentioned interview.

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