Caffeine
Recent studies show caffeine can help fight disease.
In an interesting study by The Byrd Alzheimer's Institute in Tampa, Fla., showed that lab mice injected with caffeine were protected against developing Alzheimer's disease. The injections even helped reduce symptoms in those that had the disease. The findings lead doctors to believe that up to five cups of coffee a day could have the same positive effect on humans.
Rutgers University carried out a study in July 2007 that showed regular exercise combined with daily doses of caffeine can increase the destruction of pre-cancerous skin cells in mice. Once again, the findings have not yet been tested on humans, but the indication is that it will have similar effects.
Historically, small amounts of caffeine have been used to help control weight, alleviate pain, open up airways for improved breathing, and overcome chronic fatigue.Small amounts of caffeine are found to provide the following benefits:
- Can benefit people who are at high-risk for liver disease.
- Increases muscle strength.
- Increases metabolism by breaking down fat, freeing fatty acids and forcing them to be
burned. (Caffeine is the most active ingredient in many diet pills.)
- Increases pain relief medication effects.
- Increases mental faculty.
- Reduces asthma symptoms.
Caffeine is classified as a stimulant because it increases the activity of the cardiovascular system, digestive system, and provides a sense of alertness in the brain. Scientists know that caffeine stimulates the central nervous system, resulting in increased alertness and mood elevation. Caffeine has been proven to increase work capacity, stimulate respiration, and perform Intellectual tasks more easily. Caffeine greatly increases the metabolic processes used in everyday activity, resulting in an increase in breathing rates. Caffeine can also raise some persons body temperature due to the increase in blood flow and muscle activity. Caffeine shortens reaction time and within minutes of consumption can cause the drinker to feel more alert. Research has shown that caffeine can improve endurance at levels of 3-6mg/kg. Other positive effects of caffeine are that it elevates moods and temporarily reduces fatigue.
Caffeine has many prescription and over the counter medical benefits. When infants are born premature and have weak lungs they prescribe caffeine, because of its bronchodilator effect of opening the airways in their lungs. Caffeine acts as a pain killer and is often contained in headache medicine. When caffeine is combined with headache medicine like ibuprofen, it brings faster and longer relief from headaches. Caffeine increases the acidity in your stomach, which helps speed up the absorption of pain medications. “Caffeine’s effect on blood vessels around the brains important in medicines that reduces pain from tension headaches because it constricts both the inner and outer vessels. Caffeine blocks adenosines from binding with a receptor that tells your body that you are tired. Adenosine is a purine that is important in human genetics and cell function. Caffeine is also used in certain weight loss medications because of its metabolic effects. Fatty acids are released into the blood, and a general increase in metabolism is evident as there is increased muscle activity, and calcium is made available through caffeine’s action in the muscles for contraction.
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