Pros and Cons of Caffeine

Diet | Lifestyle | Nutrition | Sleep

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Kate Halsall

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The Independent reported this week that a new study shows that if you consume more than one caffeinated product in a 24 hour period, it does not add extra beats to your heart rate (past studies have shown the opposite). The only problem is it doesn’t say what those caffeinated products were or how many more than one those people had – I’m sure if you down 15 espressos a day the results will be different!! So does that mean caffeine is good for you?

Before we answer that question – just be aware that caffeine is probably in more than just coffee. It’s in tea, chocolate, some pain killers and some sports drinks. Also, some websites claim that the recommended moderate consumption for caffeine a day is 3 cups of coffee! If you look closely enough into this, you’ll also find that some websites say you can get addicted to caffeine (as it has similar effects on the body as heroin – just not as intense!) whereas others say you can’t! To help you find the truth, here are some pros and cons of caffeine.

PROS

  • Caffeine makes you alert and does this by increasing adrenaline into the body
  • According to WebMD there are some studies which have shown that your risks of diabetes, gallstones, Parkinson’s and liver disease may reduced with moderate consumption of caffeine – not that caffeine is being prescribed as a means to reduce this risk
  • There is proof that caffeine can improve exercise performance and fat metabolism

CONS

  • If you have caffeine daily and suddenly cut it out, you might get a headache, fatigue, have difficulty concentrating and so on
  • Excessive consumption can increase risks to pregnant ladies
  • Caffeine stays in your system for 5-6 hours…something to consider if you’re having problems sleeping!
  • It can increase anxiety, stress and food cravings

Before you reach for the decaff you need to keep in mind they are not 100% caffeine free (they’re 97% caffeine free), and some decaffeinated products have been associated with increasing the level of Cholesterol in the blood, glaucoma and rheumatoid arthritis.

As always we say, everything in moderation (except chocolate and chips of course!). But if you do regularly consume more than 3 cups of tea or coffee a day, you may want to consider cutting down! Read our previous blog about caffeine and training and whether it’s beneficial.

http://www.m8north.co.uk/blog/ergogenic-effects-of-caffeine/