Contrary to what some medical people would have you believe the drug caffeine is not wholly bad for you. There are some significant benefits to caffeine if, as with everything, it is consumed in moderation.

Caffeine is found in many places – tea, coffee, some carbonated drinks like colas and Mountain Dew, even pills – and while it can be said that in today’s modern society there is over consumption (of everything not just caffeine) that doesn’t mean caffeine is inherently bad.

Here we look at some of the key benefits to caffeine consumption and how it can be used to treat certain illnesses and conditions.

Caffeine can be used to control weight gain, reduce pain, reduce fatigue (which is why we tend to drink coffee in the mornings) and even open up airways. It is administered to premature babies with weak lungs or breathing difficulties due to its bronchodilator effects.

It is a benefit to people with a high risk of liver disease and it has been proven to help with increasing muscle strength, increasing the metabolism in breaking down fats (caffeine is one of the most active ingredients in diet pills), reduce asthma symptoms (again due to the bronchodilator effects) and increase mental faculties.

Various US bodies – including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Surgeon General, National Academy of Science and the American Medical Association – have also endorsed research that indicates that caffeine isn’t a contributory factor in many diseases and conditions it had previously been thought it was.

These include various kinds of human cancer, cardiovascular or arterial diseases, high blood pressure, infertility, pregnancy complications and osteoporosis. For the drinkers, some bad news however – caffeine does not sober you up!

It is now generally accepted that caffeine is a stimulant, it increases the activity of the cardiovascular system, digestive system, and provides a sense of alertness in the brain, all of which contributes to the benefits outlined above.

Athletes have undergone many tests and it has been proven that ingesting 330 mg (or 5 mg per kilogram of body weight) 30 minutes to an hour before workouts results in greater endurance, improved times, reduced fatigue and more rapid recovery. As much as 30% across these categories in some cases!

Moderation, however, is the key consideration. What is enough and what is too much? The above mentioned bodies do not agree. Some say three cups of coffee per day, some say six cups of coffee per day and some say 300mg. The true amount will likely depend on your weight, body size and other factors, but three cups or 300mg would be a safe amount.

Too much is definitely anything over six cups and the International Olympic Committee defines “very high doses” as anything over 600mg.

The trick is to be sensible. Don’t be afraid of caffeine but don’t overdo it. A couple of cups or a coupe of cans of caffeinated soft drinks a day is nothing to worry about and can bring you significant health benefits.
Overdoing your caffeine consumption will be unhealthy, causing restlessness, lack of sleep and anxiety. If you suffer from these, reduce your daily caffeine intake and you’ll soon be feeling better and benefiting from the stimulant.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of American Soda, online retailers of Mountain Dew and other American drinks.

Category: Food and Drinks
Keywords: caffeine, stimulants, caffeine drinks, health