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Five Things You Should Know About Caffeine

April 13, 2011 Print This ArticleShare

Author: Michael Greeves

Caffeine is the world's most popular drug and there is diet and nutrition information that you should know and how it affects your body as well as with your plans in becoming fit and healthy.

The first thing you should know is that caffeine does not decrease but only increases a body's stress level. It affects a person's physical, mental as well as their emotional stress which then causes an affect to a person's mood as well as their health.

When it comes to diet and nutrition and weight loss it is a very good point that you should avoid any source of caffeine intake so that you can reduce any potential or additional stress. Caffeine will increases a person's stress in their every day life which causes a negative affect in your weight loss plan. When a person is in a constant state of stress they tend to binge eat and they also tend to use and abuse laxatives and diet pills.

The second thing that people should know about caffeine is that it affects your brain by changing the chemical adenosine in your brain, and caffeine will actually mimic adenosine. Adenosine is a chemical that transfers energy to your body. When you consume caffeine it prevents the chemical from doing its job so that your brain will then become more alert. Caffeine also increases the level of dopamine in your brain that chemical that improves your mood and over all well being.

The third thing to realize about caffeine is does actually speed up your metabolism a little however it does not help a person loose weight. It has the total opposite affect on your ability to loose weight. Caffeine is a stimulant that increases your appetite for those sweet and fatty foods, so by drinking those caffeine drinks or taking those diet pills you are only elevating your blood sugar and stress hormones which do not help a person's with their diet and nutrition needs.

The number four diet and nutrition fact about caffeine is that it interferes in the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals in your body. Caffeine prevents calcium from being absorbed by your intestines and also depletes the amount of calcium that is retained in your bones. Caffeine also interferes with your body's absorption of iron. Iron is necessary for red blood cell production. Drinking caffeine at the same time as an iron source can reduce absorption by up to 80%. Caffeine has a mild diuretic effect so the water soluble vitamins, such as the B-vitamins are depleted with the result of fluid loss. Caffeine also increases the excretion of the minerals magnesium, potassium, sodium and phosphate which are also very important to your body's health.

The fifth fact about caffeine is that it can have an effect on your reproductive process which include congenital and abnormalities along with reproductive failure and the reduction in fertility as well as premature and low birth weight in children. If you are having a problem conceiving or are pregnant it is a good idea to simply cut out the consumption of caffeine.

As with anything that you consume moderation is going to always be the key when it comes to your diet and nutrition.


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