Headaches? Caffeine Withdrawal? 12 Effects Of Caffeine…
From high blood pressure, to caffeine withdrawal effects, we’re taking a look at the common (and not so common) symptoms of caffeine on your body…
A pot of tea? A soothing treat after a stressful day. A cup of coffee? A workday pick me up. A can of coke? A hangover cure sent from the gods…
Most of us couldn’t get through the day without caffeine, but (very) sadly, it’s doing our body no real favours…
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1. Caffeine Can Make You Feel DANGEROUSLY Anxious
“Anxiety can occur if the ‘I NEED MY COFFEE’ habit is not met,” she explains – we (TOTALLY) feel you, Alison.
“You may feel a little anxious, maybe even agitated at first, this is all part of breaking a habit, especially one that can be so stimulating.”
However, as with any addictions or bad habits, perseverance will pay off and after a couple of weeks “you may be feeling calmer as your heart will stop racing with high caffeine levels.”
Caffeine increases alertness by stopping the effects of brain chemical – adenosine (the one that makes us feel tired). By doing this, it triggers adrenaline which may lead to anxiety and feelings of nervousness.
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2. You Shouldn’t Drink It Less Than SIX Hours Before Going To Bed
It’ll probably come as no surprise that caffeine intake increases the time it takes to nod off. What we didn’t know? If you drink caffeine six hours before sleep, on average your sleep will be reduced by one hour.
3. It Causes SEVERE Digestive Issues
If you didn’t know that coffee has a laxative side effect on your body, you’ve probably never had one first thing in the morning…
Given this effect, it’ll come as no surprise that too much coffee or tea can lead to an upset stomach in some people.
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4. Your Muscles Can Become Damaged If You Drink More Than THREE Cups Of Coffee Per Day
There’s been reports that rhabdomyolysis – a condition where damaged muscle fibres enter the bloodstream – is sometimes related to excessive caffeine intake.
Although this is relatively rare, it’s best to limit to caffeine intake to about 250mg – that’s about three cups.
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5. You Are 99% Likely To Become Addicted
Coffee drinkers might be surprised to find that it’s not the ‘being addicted’ itself, but the effects that come with it. Of course, although caffeine triggers brain signals in a similar way to drugs like cocaine and amphetamines do, the classic coffee addiction isn’t the same as taking class As.
However, it often still leads to both psychological or physical dependency (what makes caffeine addictive), particularly at high dosages.
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6. It Causes High Blood Pressure Leading To Strokes And Heart Disease
The words ‘high blood pressure’ are rarely used to describe a picture of health…
Although – in most people – drinking caffeinated beverages doesn’t increase the risk of conditions relating to high blood pressure, such as heart disease or stroke, people who already have a high blood pressure should pay attention to their dosage.
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7. It Makes Your Heart Beast Faster And Irregularly
We’ve all felt our hearts beat quicker after having a large amount of caffeine, but it might also lead to your heartbeat rhythm becoming altered. As your heart beats faster, more blood flows through your blood vessels and your blood pressure rises…
A condition called atrial fibrillation has been reported – particularly in young people who have a high caffeine consumption from energy drinks – which called heart to beat in an irregular rhythm.
8. It Gives You Energy Quickly… But Takes It Back EVEN Quicker
Let’s face it – the main reason why we drink coffee, tea and other caffeinated drinks is to boost our energy levels. But what goes up…
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…Must, of course, come down.
The spike in our energy – like anything – rebounds into fatigue after the caffeine starts to leave your system and leaves you feeling even more tired than pre-coffee.
9. It Makes You Wee More Leading To Chronic Dehydration
So, we’ve established that caffeine stimulates your bowel movements, but it also increases your need to urinate more frequently.
If you’re an older person or suffer from an overactive bladder, it might be time to start cutting back on your coffee.
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10. Coffee Can Lead To Weight Gain
“If you were to have three coffees a day, all of which are lattes, you could be consuming 200 – 380 calories per drink depending on whether you opt for a syrupy-sweet version,” Alison (the caffeine expert) explains.
In simpler terms, around a quarter of your recommended daily calorie intake could be going on what you thought was just a morning pick me up. Sounds like a no brainer then, really.
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11. Caffeine Makes Your Smile YELLOW
Reducing your caffeine can help you on your way towards a brighter smile…
Because coffee is so highly acidic, it can easily erode tooth enamel, causing stains on your teeth.
12. Skin Becomes Duller
Many women (and men) will feel – and see – the benefits of hydration after removing caffeine from their diet.
Alison explains. “This is because your liver begins to cleanse and detoxify. 30 days is a really good amount of time to see the benefits of taking coffee away, as your liver cleanses and naturally detoxes your body.”
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