Caffeine: See what the supplement does for the body

Caffeine is a powerful stimulant, which eliminates tiredness, improves mood and increases focus. Contrary to what many people think, it can be found in foods other than coffee, such as cocoa or guaraná.

Nowadays, there are also so-called “caffeine supplements”, which are made using vitamin capsules. See below how caffeine affects the body, contraindications and who should avoid taking it:

How caffeine works

The main effect of caffeine is to relieve fatigue. Therefore, caffeine in a concentrated and isolated version began to be used by athletes after studies showed that the supplement enhances muscular response, increasing strength, speed and endurance.

Caffeine acts in the body by combating the concentration of adenosine, which reduces body activity and induces sleep.

What are the effects of using caffeine?

To use supplementation, it is necessary to be monitored by a healthcare professional – as it is necessary to evaluate the pros and cons of the indication individually. Among the positive effects are:

• Energy boost;
• Helps with weight loss;
• Appetite control;
• Improves focus and
• Allows you to train harder.

Excess caffeine in the body

Even with so many benefits, it is necessary to measure the amount of caffeine ingested per day. The ideal is 6 mg/kg, which is equivalent to five cups for a person weighing 65 kilos. If a person exceeds this amount, they may experience some symptoms such as:

• Insomnia;
• Nervousness and tremor;
• Tachycardia;
• gastrointestinal discomfort and
• Headache

Furthermore, if a person consumes caffeine uncontrollably, they are subject to becoming addicted to the substance.

Contraindications

If you want to use caffeine as a supplement, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) recommends a limit to consuming up to 200 milligrams of caffeine per day for healthy adults.

For those who already take this supplementation, it is recommended that the maximum that can be reached during the day is 400 milligrams. However, considering Brazilian eating habits, the agency points out that we already ingest an average of 171 milligrams a day, without resorting to powdered stimulants.

Furthermore, caffeine is contraindicated for people:

• Hypertensive;
• Pregnant women;
• Children;
• Teenagers;
• Anxious people or
• People who have trouble sleeping.

*Text under the supervision of Suzana Rodrigues.