Running head: EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE ON HUMAN BODY 1

Effects of Caffeine on Human Body

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EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE ON HUMAN BODY 2

Effects of Caffeine on Human Body

Caffeine is one of the most habitually consumed pharmacologically active substance

around the globe. According to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the average

consumption of caffeine in America is approximately three hundred milligrams per an

individual in a day (Whiteman, 2015). Caffeine is commonly found in medication, cocoa

products as well as beverages such as tea, soft drinks, and coffee. According to various

studies carried out in the past, caffeine uptake should be up to four hundred milligrams per

day for an adult while the reproductive-aged women and children should take less than 400

mg per day. Notably, moderate intake of caffeine results in significant positive impacts to the

body of a human being. In fact, studies reveal that average consumption of caffeine promotes

various health benefits such as decreased rate of cancer and stimulation of central nervous

system (Whiteman, 2015). However, excess use results in adverse impacts such as increased

insomnia, the risk of heart attacks, reduction of women fertility and miscarriage risks. This

essay aims to discuss the effects of caffeine on human health.

Caffeine is a natural stimulant, and it plays a significant role in stimulation thus

activating the central nervous system (Nehlig et al., 1992). A study carried out by the

University of Michigan health service reveals that the stimulating effects of caffeine

commence as early as even after fifteen minutes of consumption and can last up to six hours

(Whiteman, 2015). When an individual takes a substance containing caffeine, the caffeine is

engrossed into the bloodstream, and then it travels to the brain. While in the brain, it blocks

adenosine which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter and in turn other neurotransmitters such as

dopamine and norepinephrine increase resulting in the firing of neurons. As a result, a lot of

alertness is enhanced thus a person may feel more awake or less tired due to increased levels

of energy. Accordingly, various aspects of brain functioning such as mood, memory,

cognitive functions, energy levels and reaction times significantly improve (Whiteman,
EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE ON HUMAN BODY 3

2015). Therefore, caffeine activates the central nervous system thus combating tiredness and

improving focus and concentration thus considerably enhancing the health of a person.

Similarly, caffeine has substantial health benefits to the consumers. Scientific studies

and research reveal that drinking three or four cups of substances containing caffeine such as

coffee reduces the risk of throat, mouth and liver cancer. According to a report by the

Medical News Today, studies depict that consuming three cups of coffee in a day reduce the

risk of liver cancer by approximately fifty percent (Whiteman, 2015). Also, another similar

study suggests that taking four cups of substances containing caffeine in a day could

significantly halve the risk of throat and mouth cancer. Similarly, the consumption of caffeine

is associated with positive impacts on the brain of a human being. A study conducted by the

Harvard School of Public health reveals that taking two to four cups of caffeine products

reduce suicide risks among the adults. Additionally, ingesting approximately two hundred

milligrams of caffeine in a day may substantially boost the long-term memory of an

individual. Finally, the intake of caffeine protects the body against various diseases such as

type 2 diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease and Parkinson's disease.

However, the consumption of caffeine causes adverse effects on the health of a human

being. The impacts are commonly associated with excessive ingestion of caffeine. For

instance, a healthy adult should take up to 400 mg of caffeine in a day; reproductive-aged

women should take less than 300 mg in a day while children should take less than 2.5 mg per

day (Nawrot et al., 2010). Notably, excess consumption of caffeine results in adverse effects

such as cardiovascular effects, calcium imbalance, general toxicity, a decrease of male

fertility as well as an increase in incidences of cancer. Consuming more than 500 to 600 mg

of caffeine in a day may result in nervousness, insomnia, a fast heartbeat and restless (Nawrot

et al., 2010). According to a report by the Medical news today, studies show that pregnant
EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE ON HUMAN BODY 4

women who consume 300 mg of caffeine increase the risk of having low birth weight

children while those who drink 4 cups of coffee in a day increase their risk of early death.

In conclusion, the consumption of caffeine has both positive and negative impacts on

human health. For instance, caffeine stimulates the body of a person thus activating nervous

system (Nehlig et al., 1992). As a result, the mind gets alert thus improving the concentration

of a person. Similarly, caffeine aids in relieving stress, increasing concentration level, and

memory as well as improving general cognitive function. Individuals ought to take the

necessary and the required amounts to avoid overdose. However, excess intake of caffeine

leads to adverse effects on the health of a person. For example, studies reveal that excess

consumption of caffeine results in increased chances of cancer, headaches, insomnia,

cardiovascular diseases as well as heart attacks (Whiteman, 2015). The disorders are a threat

to human health thus it is necessary to take the moderate required amounts hence improve

human health.
EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE ON HUMAN BODY 5

References

Nawrot, P., Jordan, S., Eastwood, J., Rotstein, J., Hugenholtz, A. & Feeley, M. (2010).

Effects of caffeine on human health. Food additives & Contaminants, 20 (1), pp 1-30.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0265203021000007840

Nehlig, A., Daval, J. & Derby, G. (1992). Caffeine and the central nervous system:

mechanisms of action, biochemical, metabolic and psychostimulant effects. Brain

research reviews, 17 (2), pp 139-170.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/016501739290012B

Whiteman, H. (2015). Caffeine: how does it affect our health? Retrieved on October 28,

2015, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271707.php

EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE ON HUMAN BODY 6

Annotated Bibliography

Nawrot, P., Jordan, S., Eastwood, J., Rotstein, J., Hugenholtz, A. & Feeley, M. (2010).

Effects of caffeine on human health. Food additives & Contaminants, 20 (1), pp 1-30.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/0265203021000007840

The journal discusses on various substances that contain caffeine as well as caffeine

intake statistics. Additionally, the authors reveal on the average intake of caffeine for adults

as well as for children to enhance healthy tips on consumption to people. The article will be

helpful in writing my research essay since it provides significant information on how to

consume caffeine thus ensure better health.

Nehlig, A., Daval, J. & Derby, G. (1992). Caffeine and the central nervous system:

mechanisms of action, biochemical, metabolic and psychostimulant effects. Brain research

reviews, 17 (2), pp 139-170.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/016501739290012B

The article explains how caffeine increases energy metabolism in the brain thus

stimulate the central nervous system. Additionally, Nehlig, Daval, and Derby illustrate the

effects of activation of the nervous system to the human body. The article is significant in my

research writing since it contains essential information on how caffeine positively affects the

human body.

Whiteman, H. (2015). Caffeine: how does it affect our health? Retrieved on October 28, 2015

from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/271707.php

The article describes how caffeine affects human body through decreasing the rate of

cancer and other diseases. Whiteman gives statistics based on studies carried out to reveal the

positive impacts of consuming caffeine. The article is substantially essential since it will

assist in providing more exceptional and exact details on the effects of caffeine on the human

body.