Caffine - How Does it work?
There is a chemical in our brain called Adenosine that makes us tired, by attaching itself to the nerves in our brain. This slows down our brain telling out body that we need sleep. Caffine looks to the brain like Adenosine and attaches to these nerves so the adenosine cannot. Because the brain isn't getting the slow down signal from the adenosine, it speeds up and works harder.
Photo by: Flickr's Charles Haynes Your body then notices all this crazy activity happening and thinks there is an emergency so it releases Adrenaline. This is the cause of the "caffine high". In simple terms, adrenaline is released as a survival tactic, and it basically allocates as much of your bodies resources as it can spare to get you ready for a fight for your life.
This is a good reaction if you are going to be in a fight as it is more important to survive, but where do these resources come from?
One adverse effect is that your body cannot release immune cells to fight harmful bacteria. This is due to the increased blood flow to the body.
Another adverse effect to adrenoline is the amount of waste and toxins that are produced. In the bodies heightened state, metabolism is sped up and more of the bodies resources are consumed. This in turn produces more waste and toxins that the body needs to remove. Many of these toxins are removed through physical action (Muscle contractions). But in today's office environment people drink a cup of coffeee and then get no physical activity, leaving this build up of toxins.
So What?
Looking back, these downfalls are not a big deal if your body only experiences these adreline rushes every so often, and when it needs it. It's terrible for you if its a full time thing. These adreline rushes are caused by things like stress, caffine, MANY drugs (stimulants and diet drugs) and other situations that make body thing you are in danger. This leads me to conclude that living a drug (caffeine is a drug) and stress free life, signifigantly increases your health.
Side Note: It seems like I am making the same point in every post: A build up of toxins is not good for your body! For my next post I am going to research how exactly your body rids itself of toxins, and what we can do to help it, but I have a feeling I already know the answer: Eat only simple natural foods and exercise.
