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Caffeine's Uses
With its popularity soaring, caffeine in it many guises is being used for reasons other than pure enjoyment. Let us take a look at the various ways caffeine is used.
1. As An Athletic Performance Enhancer.
Caffeine is widely used in the athletic community as an erogenic aid. It has been reported as having such positive effects on sports performance as increased energy levels, reaction times and alertness, and improvements in endurance. Experts believe that caffeine causes the muscle cells to utilize proportionally greater amounts of fat than would otherwise be used under normal conditions.
The fatty acids released from the muscles - in the presence of caffeine - to sustain endurance work, are thought to have a muscle-glycogen sparring effect. Thus, glycogen can be used more readily during the latter stages of an event or workout, and the athlete will be able to train longer due to the utilization of the larger fatty acid energy stores.
This could be due primarily to one of caffeine's metabolites, paraxanthine, and its ability to aid lipolysis. The critical period in glycogen sparing is thought to occur in the first 15 minutes of exercise. During this stage, caffeine has been shown to decrease glycogen utilization by as much as 50 percent. It is also worth noting that the events or training sessions most likely to benefit from caffeine consumption have been shown to be longer duration (40 minutes or more), where the athlete is not using maximum effort.
As shown, caffeine stimulates the brain, and, in turn, activates the sympathetic branch of the central nervous system, increasing feelings of alertness. As a result, the body undergoes a positive transformation in the sense that it becomes more attuned to its surroundings and is quicker to respond.
This has obvious implications for the athlete, several of which include a reduction in the perception on physical effort during exercise, or an event, and increased reaction time, faster movement, and heightened awareness.
Heart rate efficiency is also improved, as is oxygen and nutrient flow to the brain. These can all contribute to improved athletic performance.
To gain improvements in athletic performance it is thought that two to three cups of coffee or an equivalent 200 mgs in tablet form is best. However, this is subject to what the individual in question needs, or can tolerate, so there is no definitive advisable dosage.
2. To Improve Mental Acuity:
Another of caffeine's erogenic effects is its ability to heighten metal acuity and improve cognitive function. It has been shown that 75-150mg of caffeine will elevate neural activity in several parts of the brain, which assists with the completion of simple intellectual tasks - for example: relatively passive, automatic, data-driven tasks such as performing simple arithmetic, and auditory reaction time.
Although caffeine can help with more complex tasks (logical and numerical reasoning, complicated arithmetic and reading comprehension), this often hinges on the personality of the user and a series of other factors including time of the day and immediate environment. However, many people report positive benefits in taking caffeine before mental tasks such as studying for a test.
Caffeine is believed to aid memory. It is speculated that because caffeine plays a role in adrenaline (norepinephrine) production in the brain, and adrenaline, due to its fight or flight function, can improve memories for important and shocking events memory in other areas is enhanced with caffeine intake.
4. As Therapy:
Caffeine is widely used as a pain reliever, primarily as a way to treat headache (one such product is Excedrin, which also contains acetaminophen and aspirin). As mentioned, caffeine works as a vasodilator, thus helping to increase blood flow to the brain to negate the painful effects of a headache.
Caffeine is also used to stimulate breathing in newborn babies with apnea (cessation of breathing) due to premature birth or surgery. Additionally, caffeine can be used in cases where breathing is depressed (such as when one overdoses with heroin or other opiates). Given its dilating effects on airways, caffeine is also thought to be useful in the treatment of asthma, with some studies finding modest benefits.
As with many drugs, caffeine has a tolerance affect in that the more that is used, the lower the sensitivity one will have to it. This reduction in sensitivity means that as time passes, more will be needed to get the same effects. A good rule for those wanting to enjoy the performance effects of caffeine, without having to consume mass quantities, is to use it sparingly. In other words, use it when needed, rather than on a continual bases.
It is worth noting that if an athlete wants to use caffeine as an erogenic aid, for a sporting event or training session, it is best they abstain from it for 48 hours prior. When the body has built up a tolerance to its effects (in those who take in at least three cups of coffee per day), caffeine will probably not provide a significant glycogen sparing effect.
Conclusion
Caffeine is the worlds most widely used drug for several reasons: it provides a stimulating effect which often forms a reliance on its use, gives the user physical and mental benefits, is contained in many popular products, and is used for medical and therapeutic purposes.
It has been said that if caffeine consumption were to end tomorrow, 70% of the world's productivity would decline markedly; such is the widespread dependence we have for it. In light of its popularity and reported benefits, caffeine use in moderation may not necessarily be a bad thing. Just exercise caution, and enjoy.
STAY STRONG~~!!!
IPL
With its popularity soaring, caffeine in it many guises is being used for reasons other than pure enjoyment. Let us take a look at the various ways caffeine is used.
1. As An Athletic Performance Enhancer.
Caffeine is widely used in the athletic community as an erogenic aid. It has been reported as having such positive effects on sports performance as increased energy levels, reaction times and alertness, and improvements in endurance. Experts believe that caffeine causes the muscle cells to utilize proportionally greater amounts of fat than would otherwise be used under normal conditions.
The fatty acids released from the muscles - in the presence of caffeine - to sustain endurance work, are thought to have a muscle-glycogen sparring effect. Thus, glycogen can be used more readily during the latter stages of an event or workout, and the athlete will be able to train longer due to the utilization of the larger fatty acid energy stores.
This could be due primarily to one of caffeine's metabolites, paraxanthine, and its ability to aid lipolysis. The critical period in glycogen sparing is thought to occur in the first 15 minutes of exercise. During this stage, caffeine has been shown to decrease glycogen utilization by as much as 50 percent. It is also worth noting that the events or training sessions most likely to benefit from caffeine consumption have been shown to be longer duration (40 minutes or more), where the athlete is not using maximum effort.
As shown, caffeine stimulates the brain, and, in turn, activates the sympathetic branch of the central nervous system, increasing feelings of alertness. As a result, the body undergoes a positive transformation in the sense that it becomes more attuned to its surroundings and is quicker to respond.
This has obvious implications for the athlete, several of which include a reduction in the perception on physical effort during exercise, or an event, and increased reaction time, faster movement, and heightened awareness.
Heart rate efficiency is also improved, as is oxygen and nutrient flow to the brain. These can all contribute to improved athletic performance.
To gain improvements in athletic performance it is thought that two to three cups of coffee or an equivalent 200 mgs in tablet form is best. However, this is subject to what the individual in question needs, or can tolerate, so there is no definitive advisable dosage.
2. To Improve Mental Acuity:
Another of caffeine's erogenic effects is its ability to heighten metal acuity and improve cognitive function. It has been shown that 75-150mg of caffeine will elevate neural activity in several parts of the brain, which assists with the completion of simple intellectual tasks - for example: relatively passive, automatic, data-driven tasks such as performing simple arithmetic, and auditory reaction time.
Although caffeine can help with more complex tasks (logical and numerical reasoning, complicated arithmetic and reading comprehension), this often hinges on the personality of the user and a series of other factors including time of the day and immediate environment. However, many people report positive benefits in taking caffeine before mental tasks such as studying for a test.
Caffeine is believed to aid memory. It is speculated that because caffeine plays a role in adrenaline (norepinephrine) production in the brain, and adrenaline, due to its fight or flight function, can improve memories for important and shocking events memory in other areas is enhanced with caffeine intake.
4. As Therapy:
Caffeine is widely used as a pain reliever, primarily as a way to treat headache (one such product is Excedrin, which also contains acetaminophen and aspirin). As mentioned, caffeine works as a vasodilator, thus helping to increase blood flow to the brain to negate the painful effects of a headache.
Caffeine is also used to stimulate breathing in newborn babies with apnea (cessation of breathing) due to premature birth or surgery. Additionally, caffeine can be used in cases where breathing is depressed (such as when one overdoses with heroin or other opiates). Given its dilating effects on airways, caffeine is also thought to be useful in the treatment of asthma, with some studies finding modest benefits.
As with many drugs, caffeine has a tolerance affect in that the more that is used, the lower the sensitivity one will have to it. This reduction in sensitivity means that as time passes, more will be needed to get the same effects. A good rule for those wanting to enjoy the performance effects of caffeine, without having to consume mass quantities, is to use it sparingly. In other words, use it when needed, rather than on a continual bases.
It is worth noting that if an athlete wants to use caffeine as an erogenic aid, for a sporting event or training session, it is best they abstain from it for 48 hours prior. When the body has built up a tolerance to its effects (in those who take in at least three cups of coffee per day), caffeine will probably not provide a significant glycogen sparing effect.
Conclusion
Caffeine is the worlds most widely used drug for several reasons: it provides a stimulating effect which often forms a reliance on its use, gives the user physical and mental benefits, is contained in many popular products, and is used for medical and therapeutic purposes.
It has been said that if caffeine consumption were to end tomorrow, 70% of the world's productivity would decline markedly; such is the widespread dependence we have for it. In light of its popularity and reported benefits, caffeine use in moderation may not necessarily be a bad thing. Just exercise caution, and enjoy.
STAY STRONG~~!!!
IPL