Caffeine

Caffeine: A Stimulating Alkaloid

Caffeine goes back in the Stone Age. Folklore identifies the stimulating effects of caffeine. This was found by the Chinese in tea, the Ethiopian in chocolate, and the Mayans in cocoa. It is currently the most widely used psychoactive drug.

The Composition of Caffeine

Caffeine is a naturally occurring alkaloid present in plants such as tea, coffee, cocoa and cola. The extraction process specifies the composition of the caffeine. Coffee contains more coffee than tea. Robusta coffee has a higher amount of caffeine than Arabica coffee. Caffeine in cocoa beans is negligible relative to coffee beans. Energy drinks are obtained from the extracts of coffee decaffeination and have much higher concentrates of caffeine, up to 85 milligrams per serving as opposed to 5-55 milligrams obtained from the serving of non-alcoholic beverages.

The Benefits of Caffeine

Caffeine has several benefits. Caffeine promotes a positive mood, increases alertness, concentration and vigor while reducing fatigue. It increases cognition and memory formation. It also boosts physical performance and endurance. Also, caffeine reduces weight gain and prevents Alzheimer’s, liver toxicity, dementia and Parkinson’s disease.

The Negative Effects of Caffeine

However, caffeine also has negative effects. Caffeine causes addiction with the development of withdrawal symptoms. It also causes osteoporosis as a result of decreased bone density. Caffeine reduces sleep, which may be detrimental to the development process of a child. It is counterproductive to the management of diabetes type II as it increases blood sugar. Caffeine predisposes one to ulcers and can cause pregnant women to miscarry.

Moderation is Key

The passage of time has seen an increase in caffeine’s popularity mostly because of its positive effects. Although caffeine also has negative effects, the key to realizing maximum benefit from it lies in moderation in consumption.