Even the morning ritual of drinking fresh coffee can become a bad habit: the World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized caffeine addiction as a disease, and the US Department of Health has issued a recommendation to drink no more than 400 milliliters of coffee a day, or about three cups of coffee.
The Village asked experts if caffeine addiction is a real problem, and why coffee has different effects.
How does caffeine work?
Caffeine is a psychostimulant found in the leaves, seeds, and fruits of dozens of plants. It is found in tea, cocoa beans and kola nuts, but most of all it is coffee beans. When ingested, this substance blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, respiratory system, and heart and blood vessels, which increases the secretion of adrenaline. As a result, 10-20 minutes after drinking a cup of coffee, one feels cheerful, drowsiness disappears, and efficiency increases. Caffeine gradually stops working after an average of three hours.
Why does addiction happen?
Caffeine addiction – This is a form of abuse such as drugs and alcohol and can develop if you drink caffeinated beverages regularly for several months. You can tell if you have it by giving up caffeine for a day and observing the sensations and feeling. If nervousness, weakness, fatigue, headache or muscle pain, concentration problems and persistent thoughts about coffee appear (a similar condition occurs in smokers who quit smoking), then there is an addiction.
Inadequate sleep (less than eight hours a night) or poor sleep often leads to caffeine dependence. Frequent and prolonged exposure to artificial light increases caffeine consumption: lack of sunlight causes drowsiness. Smoking, a sedentary lifestyle and sedentary work also encourage people to drink coffee more often – they want to take stimulants, a “magic pill” that quickly eliminates fatigue and gives strength and vitality. At the same time, caffeine addiction does not have severe forms, and it is possible to deal with it on your own.
Why does coffee have different effects
For some, half a cup of coffee is enough to eliminate drowsiness, while others don’t notice the effect even after three cups of espresso. This difference is related to the enzyme system – cytochrome P450 – found in the liver. According to pharmacologist Vasily Shurov, in some people this enzyme works very slowly so the effect of coffee stays longer. As a result, a small amount of the drink is enough to make a person feel rejuvenated for several hours. For others, this enzyme, on the contrary, is very active – they can drink a lot of coffee, and almost do not notice changes in their condition.
The effect of coffee usually depends on how often you drink it: if you rarely drink the drink, one cup will be more than enough for vigor. Those who drink coffee regularly develop a tolerance to caffeine (as is the case with excessive alcohol consumption) – you can drink five to eight cups of coffee a day without noticeable changes. But over time, the body’s resources run out – and health problems begin. Diseases of the stomach associated with high acidity develop – excessive gastritis, ulcers. The nervous system suffers: Caffeine increases production of cortisol – the “stress hormone”, which speeds up the pulse and increases stress, leading to sudden mood swings and anxiety disorders.