Caffeine and you

Coffee is good for you! It contains thousands of chemical compounds, many of which may influence health. Studies suggest that coffee drinkers live longer and have lower risks of Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, cardiovascular conditions, and some cancers! As one scientist states, “Overall, coffee does more good than bad.” (For what it’s worth, the FDA cites 400 milligrams—about four or five cups of coffee — as a safe amount for adults.)

Coffee (caffeine) is a stimulant that enhances mental sharpness and physical performance. Here’s how it works: throughout the day your body produces a chemical called adenosine, which binds to receptors in your brain and makes you feel drowsy. Caffeine perks you up by blocking those receptors. It takes about 20 to 30 minutes for caffeine to be absorbed into your bloodstream and reach your brain. Because adenosine levels in your brain decrease while you sleep, they’re at their lowest immediately after you wake up.

Everyone responds to caffeine differently. It makes some people jittery and anxious. Others require more caffeine to feel its stimulating effects. That’s because its effect depends on your genetics. Your genes influence the rate at which you metabolize caffeine. According to the experts, it could take anywhere from two to ten hours to clear half a dose of caffeine (200 milligrams) from your blood. You’re probably aware of caffeine’s effect on you and adjust your consumption accordingly. If you begin to experience symptoms of having too much, you cut back. If you need a pick-me-up, you have another cup.

I probably don’t drink enough coffee to get its health benefits—or any benefits, for that matter. I make a six-ounce cup in the morning and drink about half of it. Must be my genes. Holding that thought, I went to my 23 and Me account and looked it up.  Here’s what I got: “Constance, based on your genetics, you are likely to drink less caffeine than average, if you drink caffeine at all. This report is based on genetic variants near two genes that play a role in how your body handles caffeine.” Freaky!

For an introduction to this blog, see I Just Say No; for a list of blog topics, click the Topics tab.