Our daily coffee and tea is part and parcel of every day life, so here are some little bursts of information about your drug of choice……..caffeine!
Some notes on caffeine…..
- Caffeine is found in more than 60 plants! We consume it most regularly in coffee, tea, chocolate and soft drinks (coke, red bull etc).
- It has been shown to increase lypolysis (breakdown of body fat) and use of fat as a fuel in the body. This has lead to reports of the link of caffeine to fat loss. This usage may be more prominant in trained individuals however.
- It increases energy expenditure by stimulating the SNS (sympathetic nervous system) which has an effect of increasing muscle energy production
- It is a mild diuretic. Normally the fluid ingested with the caffeine negates this effect however.
- It can be an irritant to the lining of the stomach and intestine
- It can increase your heart rate and blood pressure which may have a greater demand on the cardiovascular system. This can help our performance in the gym/sport short term but is not desirable for long term health.
- It has a half life of 6 hrs, so its best to have the last cup by 3 o'clock to aid sleep and repair. That after dinner espresso is not the best idea!
- It www.healthymanviagra.com can increase stress levels, both mental and physical, due to the stimulation of the SNS and resultant secretion of stress hormones into the body.
- Response to caffeine is individual and people respond very differently. For regular coffee drinkers there is a ceiling of benefits to which further caffeine will have no response.
The case for tea:- the healthier caffeine option……..
- natural source of antioxidants (flavanoids)
- green and black tea have similar amount of antioxidants (more than herbal varieties)
- the water in tea can be included in your daily fluid requirements as it does not have a strong diuretic effect
- it takes 3 minutes for the antioxidants to be released from the tea bag/leaves
- 2 cups of black tea contains the same amount of antioxidants as 7 glasses of orange juice and twice the power of 1 apple
- it can lower your risk of heart attack and kidney stones by up to 70%!
- tea without milk has no calories
- less than half the amount of caffeine than coffee!
Caffeine content comparisons:-
- Brewed coffee 80-120mg
- Instant coffee 60-70mg
- Tea 15-45mg (White – Black)
- Hot chocolate 5-10mg
- Coke/Pepsi 35-50mg
- Red bull 80mg
- V energy 50mg
- Chocolate bar 5-15mg
Enjoy your next cup of caffeine!