Caffeine

Seungyeon
 What is caffein?
Caffeine is a natural stimulant most
commonly found in tea, coffee, and cacao
plants. It works by stimulating the brain
and central nervous system, helping you
stay alert and prevent the onset of
tiredness.

Nowadays, 80% of the world’s population

consumes a caffeinated product each day,
and this number goes up to 90% for adults
in North America
 History of Caffeine

Caffeine was first extracted from cocoa

beans into its purest form, a white
powder, in the 1820s by a German
Scientist named Friedrich Ferdinand
Runge. Today it is easily extracted and
used to make a variety of products that
are consumed daily.

Friedrich Ferdinand Runge

 Natural Sources of Caffeine
Caffeine is naturally found in the fruit, leaves, and beans of coffee,
cacao, Kola nut, and guarana plants.
 How Caffeine Works
Once consumed, caffeine is quickly absorbed from the gut into the
bloodstream. From there, it travels to the liver and is broken down into
compounds that can affect the function of various organs.That said,
caffeine’s main effect is on the brain.

It functions by blocking the effects of adenosine, which is a neurotransmitter

that relaxes the brain and makes you feel tired
 Benefits of caffeine

Weight loss
Caffeine may boost weight loss or prevent weight
gain, possibly by:
• suppressing the appetite and temporarily
reducing the desire to eat
• stimulating thermogenesis, so the body
generates more heat and energy from digesting
food
Weight loss products that are marketed as
thermogenics may contain caffeine and ephedra, or
ephedrine.
 Benefits of caffeine

Sports performance
Caffeine can improve physical performance during
endurance exercise.

The European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) recognize

that caffeine can increase endurance performance,
endurance capacity, and reduction in perceived
exertion.

However, the effects on short-term, high-intensity

exercise remain inconclusive.
 Risks
Depression
A high caffeine intake may worsen
symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Research published in 2016 found that, in

234 middle school students in Korea, a
higher caffeine intake was linked higher
weight, lower academic achievement, and a
higher risk of severe depression.

However, whether the caffeine leads to

depression or depression causes people to
consume more caffeine remains unclear.
 Risks
Blood sugar
People with type 2 diabetes report that
their blood glucose levels rise after
consuming caffeine.

There is some evidence that caffeine may

impair insulin action, leading to a small but
detectable rise in blood sugar levels,
particularly after meals.
Thanks for listening!