What does Caffeine do to your body?

Essay by HulaSensation April 2004

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What does Caffeine do to your body?

Do you enjoy an occasional espresso with the after dinner mints? The coffee peps you up, lures you out of bed and helps you face the day ahead. So what's wrong with your coffee habit? How about low energy, extra stress, mineral depletion, exhausted adrenal glands, indigestion, anxiety and mood swings.

If this sounds like you, its time to change your habit and discover the caffeine that's in your drink, the substance you believed was keeping you going, is actually draining your energy! Black coffee has a zero Calorie count, so it can't provide energy although you may think you may feel energized.

Caffeine is known as a psycho-stimulant because it works directly on the brain. It improves reaction time and concentration, which is giving you the feeling of alertness and increased energy. It lowers blood pressure, heart rate and body temperature, protects against seizures, slows down the motility of the digestive tract and generally balances the body's reaction to stress.

Caffeine has a molecular structure that is so similar to adenosine, that it can bind to the same receptor sites and block the action of adenosine. Caffeine not only blocks the action of adenosine, it also stimulates the adrenal glands to produce two stress hormones adrenalin and cortisol. This gives a small kick to the system and, as part of the enjoyment of an occasional cappuccino, is no bad thing. But regular coffee drinkers are keeping their bodies on a constant state of emergency by stimulating themselves with caffeine.

Look at the situation like this, Imagine that your adrenal glands is like a bank account. Genetic factors and your lifestyle determine how long you can continue to make repeated withdrawals against your energy reserves and still maintain good health. If you...