Caffeine, a component in coffee, tea and colas, affects the body as a central nervous system stimulant, diuretic and vasoconstrictor. Moderate caffeine consumption affects the body in a variety of beneficial ways. Excessive caffeine intake -- four to seven cups of coffee daily -- can have a negative effect on mood, sleep pattern, heart rate and the gastrointestinal tract.
Alleviate Fatigue and Bolsters Alertness
Caffeine is possibly the most popular and widely used drug. It is considered a drug because it acts to stimulate the central nervous system. It enters the bloodstream through the stomach and small intestines. Within 15 minutes after consumption, a person feels its effect. By stimulating the central nervous system, which includes the brain and spinal cord, most people experience an increase in alertness, improvement in mood and a temporary boost of energy. Caffeine is widely used to alleviate fatigue and increase alertness at the start of the day, during the day when alertness begins to wane and to keep awake for late night studying. The body does not store caffeine but it can take up to 6 hours before 50 percent of the caffeine consumed is eliminated.
Reduces Risk of Liver Damage
The consumption of coffee, especially the component of caffeine, may reduce the risk of liver damage. Constance E. Ruhl and James E. Everhart analyzed the information gathered in a national, population-based survey designed by the National Center for Health Statistics. The participants included 5,944 adults with known risk factors for liver injury. The researchers used ALT or alanine aminotransferase levels as a measurement tool. Aminotransferase is a type of enzyme released into the bloodstream as a result of liver damage. Ruhl and Everhart found that an increased consumption of coffee correlated to a decreased risk of elevated ALT levels.
Pain Reliever
Caffeine is an ingredient in certain brands of over-the-counter and prescription analgesics, generally medications to treat headaches. Since its pain relieving properties are mild, caffeine is combined with stronger analgesics such as aspirin, acetaminophen, propoxyphene and butalbital, to treat the symptoms of headaches, including migraines. Propoxyphene is a narcotic drug used to treat mild to moderate pain. Butalbital compound is used to treat pain, headaches and migraines.
References
- American Heart Association: Caffeine
- MayoClinic: Caffeine: How Much is Too Much?
- UW: Effects of Caffeine on the Nervous System
- TeensHealth: Caffeine
- Gastroenterology: Coffee and Caffeine Consumption Reduce the Risk of Elevated Serum Alanine Aminotransferase Activity in the United States
- Archive of Internal Medicine: Coffee, Cirrhosis, and Transaminase Enzymes
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