Popular Science | The two sides of caffeine

What is caffeine?

The chemical formula of caffeine is C 8 H 10 N 4 O 2. Like other alkaloids, it is an alkaloid extracted from tea leaves and coffee berries. It is a xanthine compound and a central nervous system stimulant. Caffeine has significant physical properties: it is toxic and has medicinal effects. Its pharmacological effects are similar to those of nicotine, morphine, cocaine, and even quinine.

Speaking of caffeine, we have to start from 1820. Caffeine is a natural insect repellent found in plants. If plants contain caffeine, small insects will die. German chemist Friedrich Ferdinand Runge successfully extracted caffeine from coffee beans. In the following years, he extracted the same ingredient from tea leaves. At that time, this ingredient was named "tea". Later, these ingredients with different origins were uniformly named "caffeine". Later, people found that plants containing caffeine have a refreshing effect, and they like to make beverages more and more. The three major beverages in the world, "coffee, tea, and cocoa", all contain caffeine. Carbonated drinks and energy drinks also contain caffeine.

Caffeine's mechanism of action:

• Increased free fatty acid oxidation

• Effects on skeletal muscle performance

• Acts as an adenosine receptor antagonist in the central nervous system (CNS)

There are two common misconceptions about caffeine:

1. “Deeply roasted coffee beans have low caffeine content”

In fact, caffeine does decrease during roasting, but the weight of the coffee beans themselves also decreases during roasting.

2. “It’s lower in caffeine, so it’s better for your health”

Caffeine has many pharmacological effects. For those who are pregnant or have a bad stomach, it is best to control the amount of coffee they consume. However, as long as coffee is consumed in moderation, it can effectively relieve fatigue and restore energy.

The two sides of caffeine:

Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid compound that can directly excite not only the cerebral cortex but also the medulla oblongata. It has a certain potential for mental dependence. Moderate use can relieve fatigue and excite nerves. It is clinically used to treat neurasthenia and coma resuscitation. Many changes in our human beings are still attributed to caffeine, because caffeine, the main component of coffee, gives coffee the ability to keep humans awake in thinking activities, enhance memory, gain inspiration, and become talkative. But for healthy adults, the amount of caffeine that can be taken a day is about 300 mg to 400 mg. If you have heart disease, the amount should be reduced to half. Do not take more than 150 to 200 mg of caffeine a day. Do not touch caffeine under the age of 12, and do not take more than 100 mg a day for teenagers. However, pregnant women should be more restrained and should not take more than 100 to 200 mg a day.

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