Importance of Caffeine to the Human Brain:- Caffeine is among the most common drug used by most people today. Most people consume it unknowingly. Children as young as five years use it each day. Caffeine is a drug present in sweets, chocolates, most beverages. Caffeine is taken by many as it relaxes the body and mind. Being a drug, caffeine has both its importance and also its adverse effects. If taken at the required proportions, then it can bring no harm in the body unlike when it is taken in large portions. Among the importance of caffeine is that it heals cancer and makes one lively and sensitive. When taken in excess, it causes addiction and obesity. Majorly, the paper talks about the importance of caffeine to the human brain.
In its purest form -albeit caffeine, once consumed enters the body then once it gets well distributed throughout the bloodstream via the stomach and ileum lining, finds its way to the brain. Both adenosine and caffeine are substances found in the brain. The work of adenosine is to report to the mind that much rest is needed since the body is tired. Caffeine plays an essential role since it inhibits the adenosine from communicating to the brain that the body is tired. The feeling brings out the notion that caffeine relaxes the mind and body. Much adenosine is produced to compete with the levels of caffeine(Boulenger & Marangos 1982). The adenosine levels make one crave for more caffeinated drinks so that they can replace the adenosine levels which causes restlessness. To retain the feeling of being relaxed and sleeplessness, more caffeine is somewhat taken. Some of the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. Research has shown that caffeine is a protective drug that prevents one from contracting the infections. Dementia which often occurs in the late life of a human being gets mainly reduced by taking some few cups of a drink that contains caffeine. Such beverages may include coffee, chocolate or tea.
From the research done, Alzheimer is a disease that brings about change in behavior, thinking problem and also memory loss. When the people at risk of getting infected take some caffeinated drinks in moderation, they lower their chances of contracting the disease since caffeine causes alertness, increases memory retention and ability. However, the rate of taking such drinks should be regulated to avoid addiction. Those at early stages of Alzheimer are also encouraged to take a few caffeinated drinks. An example of a central nervous system infection is the Parkinson's which brings about the death of brain nerves cells which are responsible for the movement of muscles as they produce dopamine hormone. Taking about two to three cups of caffeinated drinks reduces the chances of getting infected by the disease. It is clear and approved that caffeine brings about cure of specific ailments when taken at the right amounts.
Research has shown that many people take drinks such as coffee and tea with a reason behind it. The drinks contain caffeine of different intensities which when taken helps to keep off sleep. Many use this as a means of staying awake for so long. Often, drivers who drive late at night prefer such drinks which helps them feel awake and at the same time relaxed. The feeling is just a temporary. Students also prefer taking this drinks especially when there have exams to keep them awake and productive during the entire night. Such becomes a way that many people have ended up misusing the drug(WALDECK, 1971). When abused, it causes more harm than good. Once the brain gets used to the drug, it fails to give the best results till the victim consumes caffeine. Caffeine reduces the quality of sleep a person can have especially taken few hours before one retires to bed. The most affected stages of sleep are stage 3 and 4, this if not taken care of can cause brain damage. When kept awake by the caffeinated drink, a victim feels energized and alert, though this lasts for a short time after which the victim becomes sleepy and fatigued.
Caffeine is a preventive drug for mental sicknesses like a headache, fatigue and much agony such as depression. Out of the research done by psychologists, they have discovered that caffeine is the drug that brings patients to normal states once they consume caffeine. It depends on the level and the concentration a person takes in the drinks. Person A may feel rejuvenated once they consume 3 cups of a drink containing caffeine while person B may feel okay once they consume only 1 cup of the drink(Nehlig & Debry 1992). What psychologists do is that they try and monitor the drinking habits of the patient so that in times of attack, the administer the drug to the patient. In as much as caffeine is of great importance to the body, some are extreme cases which require immediate action. In cases where a victim is an addict of caffeine and fails to take someone morning, the brain responds by reducing the amounts of acetylcholine and secondly, the number of adenosine receptors increases. This mechanism causes severe withdrawals to the health of the victim such as a headache, weaknesses among many others. Once the person takes caffeine the levels of adenosine receptors produced by the brain increases causing relaxation of the blood vessels making blood to flow to increase and finally causes brain congestion.
Caffeine increases the memory retention, activity, and alertness. The information is gotten from research done. Students who take caffeine tend to be very active since the product they took containing caffeine helps in boosting their memory capacity. The main reason behind this is that caffeine helps in stimulating the central nervous system. In places of work, researchers have discovered that caffeine is the most psychoactive used drug since it helps increases productivity at a higher level. One feels very actively and alerts after taking caffeine(Costill, 1998). This feeling comes from the brain. Other people feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Employers prefer caffeinated drinks as they help increase the work output since it boosts memory creation and retention at a higher level. Once taken in the morning, they can be sure of productivity for the rest of the day. All these benefits caused by the caffeine is as a result of neurotransmitters produced by the brain which include dopamine, serotonin, and noradrenaline. Other interests brought about by caffeine include improved learning, vigilance and also general mental functions.
In conclusion, it is right to say that when taken at the right portions, caffeine can do more good than harm. The most important thing is moderation. Since it is a drug like any other, proper amounts of caffeine should be taken at the right time. People should be on the lookout. As early discussed, caffeine has got many health benefits ranging from the brain, memory and many more. One should consume caffeinated drinks depending on their rate of tolerance and dependency. However, caution should be taken to avoid addiction since it becomes too complicated for one to overcome addiction entirely successfully (Fredholm et.al, 1999). You must pay a cost. Among the benefits that caffeine brings to the brain include alertness and memory capability and retention, protection from diseases such as Alzheimer and Parkinson among many others. Those are some of the benefits that come along with taking caffeinated drinks to the brain.