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by Dr. Edward Group DC, NP, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFMPublished on February 1, 2015, Last Updated on
March 6, 2015Email
Whether you consume tea, coffee, sodas, energy drinks, or chocolate, youre consuming some form
of caffeine. This post is not meant to demonize caffeine altogether; in fact, at small amounts, caffeine
has certain health benefits. Its the excess use of caffeine that is an issue, as this compound is highly
addictive. [1]Caffeine doesnt even provide true energyit is merely a stimulant. Still, there are many
who rely on it every day to get them going. Are you one those people? Listen up during this post to
find out how caffeine dependency can affect your body and mind.
Caffeine affects regions in the brain associated with addiction, creating dependency on the
substance for an artificial state of energy.
Caffeine impacts the entire body with dehydration, and it impairs the digestive system in a
number of ways.
At the root of caffeine addiction is a physiological dependency that forms within the brain. This is
more than a psychological addiction. Caffeine actually makes the brain not only want it, but it makes
the brain want it more and more. Here are a few of the side effects that go along with caffeine:
Caffeine suppresses a chemical called adenosine, which is secreted by the brain to relax the
body. [2] Suppression of this compound by caffeine affects the body by making it feel a tense surge
of energy. While this surge of energy is truly stimulating, the threshold of stimulation continues to
rise, making the brain require increasing levels of caffeine to simulate the same effect. This creates
dependency on users who require caffeine on a daily basis to get moving.
juice, and distilled water. Supplements that help cleanse the colon, rehydrate cells, and stimulate
digestive enzymes are also recommended.
References:
1.
2.
Ribeiro JA, Sebastlao AM. Caffeine and adenosine. J Alzheimers Dis. 2010;20 Suppl 1:S315. doi: 10.3233/JAD-2010-1379.
3.
Maughan RJ, Griffin J. Caffeine ingestion and fluid balance: a review. J Hum Nutr Diet. 2003
Dec;16(6):411-20.
4.
Bergman EA, Massey LK, Wise KJ, Sherrard DJ. Effects of dietary caffeine on renal handling
of minerals in adult women. Life Sci. 1990;47(6):567-64.