7 Unbelievable Facts About What Caffeine Does to Your Body

Caffeine is a legal and non-regulated psychoactive drug that is consumed across the world and most commonly in coffee, cola-like beverages, chocolate, and energy drinks. The stimulating effect of caffeine gives an individual a boost of energy as well as fighting drowsiness which is why the body will sometimes crave an afternoon coffee or energy drink after a long morning. While many have a daily dose of caffeine across the world, in coffee or otherwise, these same people may not be aware of the various effects caffeine has on the human body. These seven incredible ways in which caffeine affects the body are sure to shock and surprise.

Increased Alertness

Caffeine can get into the bloodstream very quickly making its presence within the body felt almost instantly. Many who are reading this would have experienced a morning in which tiredness has seemingly overtaken the body, leaving an individual in a zombie-like state. After a morning cup of coffee, the 'zombie' awakens and can pump out morning emails and tasks and become a productive human once again. Adenosine, a neurotransmitter in the body, can play a role in making a human sleepy and caffeine will 'block' this type of activity within the nervous system. An increased feel of alertness after a coffee or energy drink will be most noticeable for those who experience an afternoon dip in energy, those who work at night and in dangerous jobs, and those suffering from a cold or flu. Habitual coffee drinkers may need 2 or 3 cups of coffee to experience the same alertness as someone who does not consume coffee or caffeine as regularly.

Increased Metabolism

Caffeine consumption can boost the body's metabolic rate, increasing the rate in which food in processing. This process can help to burn fat; however, an individual will become used to the effects of caffeine and over time, this will not be a sustainable way to lose weight. Caffeine stimulates the central nervous system of the body, sending messages that tell fat cells to break down stored fat as well as increasing the resting metabolic rate (RMR) by up to 11%. The positive effects on metabolism that caffeine creates are best felt by people who are not obese. This theory was given credence by a study by the American Journal of Physiology that found fat-burning rates could increase as much as 29% in lean or athletic individuals after consuming caffeine and as little as a 10% increase for those considered obese after consuming the same amount. These types of effects are also felt more by younger people, and the effects will not be as pronounced in older individuals. Many pre-workout supplements will also contain caffeine which can help to increase performance and endurance in the gym and improve results.

It Helps You Cheat Death

Although the correlations between caffeine and longevity are inconclusive, some studies provide early evidence that a daily cup of coffee can lower risk of premature death by up to 15%. One such study, from the American Heart Association medical journal, concluded that higher intake of coffee, whether caffeinated or decaffeinated, was associated with a lower risk of total mortality. Researchers in the same study also found that drinking 3 to 5 cups of coffee per day will have a lower risk of developing cardiovascular problems or diabetes than people who do not drink coffee every day. Although there is no definitive proof that coffee and caffeine will help someone live longer, the association between caffeine and a decreased mortality rate should be enough to persuade anyone their daily habit is beneficial in the long-run.

Caffeine Can Hinder Introverts

Caffeine can affect a person differently due to some factors such as age, weight, height, and health of the individual but surprisingly, personality types will also determine the effects that caffeine has on the human body. This phenomenon has been hypothesized and studied, and many introverts experience overstimulation from caffeine. Introverted personalities are thought to operate at the optimum level of alertness and caffeine intake, before or during certain tasks, will over-stimulate the mind which makes it harder for this type of personality to complete the project at hand. The difference between the introvert and extrovert personality types regarding caffeine consumption and productivity is when the task is qualitative (for example, accounting spreadsheets) and has a deadline. Extrovert personality types will be more likely to complete these types of tasks easier under the influence of caffeine. Psychologist Brian Little suggests that introverts should consume their caffeine in the afternoon and under relaxing circumstances rather than right before a meeting or important task with a time limit.

Memory Boost

John Hopkins University of Baltimore, Maryland, conducted a study in which people who did not consume caffeine were either given a placebo or a caffeine supplement and were asked to view images 1, 3 and 24 hours apart. These pictures were changed slightly after 24 hours, and the individuals who consumed the caffeine supplement were more likely to notice the changes rather than claiming it was the same image. Caffeine is also used by many students across the world as a study-aid to have enough energy to cram the night before an exam. Caffeine has had mostly positive effects in studies of long-term memory and habitual consumption, but studies of caffeine and short-term memory are thought to be highly inconsistent.

Promotes Bowel Movements

A morning coffee is often swiftly followed by a bowel movement, and many people find that this becomes a habitual practice. Every individual is different and will feel differing effects from caffeine, so some may feel this consequence more than others. Caffeinated coffee is 60% more efficient at getting the digestive system moving than a glass of water, and this is due to coffee relaxing the colonic muscles and making the whole process easier. Peristalsis is the name of the process when the intestinal muscles contract and relax, allowing bowel movements, and the effect of coffee on this process is similar to that of eating a meal. Coffee can also have a positive impact on those with constipation, loosening stools and making sure the body rids itself of waste.

Caffeine Has A Feelgood Effect

A morning cup of coffee can boost a person's mood just as effectively as it can increase energy levels and alertness. Caffeine can block neurotransmitters that leave an individual sluggish but can also enhance the function of beneficial neurotransmitters within the brain. These transmitters can send useful chemicals into the bloodstream and brain such as dopamine and serotonin. Dopamine improves the mood of an individual and serotonin makes a person feel more relaxed as well as alert and energetic. A recent ten-year study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine (now known as JAMA) shows that women who consume 2 or 3 cups of caffeinated coffee per day were 15% less likely to develop depression than those who consumed less than 1 cup per day. Women who drank 4 or more cups of coffee per day were 20% less likely to develop depression than women who consumed less than 1 cup of coffee per day.