Caffeine is widely considered to be bad for your health, but there are some little known benefits, too.
We have all heard stories about how caffeine can affect your body. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, caffeine is technically a legal drug, with withdrawal symptoms such as headache, drowsiness, and decreased alertness. I would never tell anyone whether or not to consume caffeine, since as a working mother I can totally understand why someone would choose to imbibe. I would however, like to mention that there are some positive benefits to caffeine consumption as well, such as:
Alleviation of headaches and asthma.
Protection against Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, although it is important to mention that adequate sleep is also important.
Helps prevent certain cancers, and is attributed to lower rates of Parkinson’s disease.
Lower risk of stroke in women, and association with a reduced risk of diabetes.
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Negative benefits of caffeine can include:
Increased heart rate and heart palpitations during pregnancy.
Increase in menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, sleeplessness, and vaginal dryness.
Difficulty getting adequate sleep.
Adverse reactions with certain medications like psychiatric and depression drugs, some antibiotics, and heartburn medicine.
Association with higher blood pressure.
Whether or not you are a caffeine drinker, it is very important to know what you are putting in your body. For the average adult, it is safe to consume about 400 milligrams of caffeine daily, but it is important to keep in mind that caffeine comes from different sources like soft drinks and energy drinks.
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