Keep caution of coffee: effects of caffeine on the body

Over 90 percent of adults in America drink coffee every day. Even in high school many students could not imagine their lives without coffee, because of the boost that they are given from the caffeine.

Not only do the effects of caffeine make you more alert 20 minutes after it enters the body, but it also does a plethora of other things that are beneficial for the body.

“A recent study showed that coffee could enhance your memory 24 hours after consumption,” Dr Owen Bain, founder of the Gourmet Focus consultancy, said. “This may not appear to be long, but most memories are lost within a few hours after learning.”

Another thing coffee does, is it opens up your lungs, making it easier to breath. It also slightly dilates your pupils, which can give the perception of sharper vision.

Even though a cup or two of coffee can give you more energy to get work done or stay awake, it also has some negative effects that cause some people question whether or not it is worth it.

After having one cup of coffee you will digest food faster, but there is a back end to faster digestion too. “But experts advise avoiding coffee on an empty stomach as the gastric juices can irritate the gut lining, causing pain, bloating and heartburn,” Bain said.

After about three hours of energy, some people will experience a coffee crash, where the effects wear off and they become extremely tired.

Coffee also has effects on people’s moods.

“An hour after drinking one cup of coffee there is a reduction in anxiety levels and increased feelings of contentment,” Bain said. After more than one cup, coffee causes a spike in anxiety and heart rate.

Coffee also can have negative effects on the sleep cycle of a person. This is because coffee consumed late in the evening resets the internal body clock by delaying a rise in the level of melatonin, the body’s chief sleep hormone.