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Check out this infographic to find out how caffeine can affect your body. The infographic is provided by UPMC HealthBeat and was reviewed by the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute.

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Infographic: Caffeine and Your Body | UPMC HealthBeat

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This is an animation depicting how exactly caffeine wakes us up and keeps us awake. The informational animation is produced by Ted-Ed.

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How does caffeine keep us awake? - Hanan Qasim

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Caffeine Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Caffeine?

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Caffeine Quiz: How Much Do You Know About Caffeine?

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Take this quiz to find out how much you know about caffeine and the effects it has on your body. The quiz is provided by the University of Rochester Medical Center's online health encyclopedia and was created by medical reviewers.

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Caffeine Quiz - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center

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The Shocking Effects Caffeine Has on Your Brain and Body

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The Shocking Effects Caffeine Has on Your Brain and Body

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Watch this video to learn the 'shocking' effects caffeine has on your brain and body. The video is informational and provides detailed descriptions of the effects and why the effects occur.

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The Shocking Effects Caffeine Has on Your Brain and Body

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This is a Question & Answer provided by the online University Health Service of the University of Michigan which consists of popular questions regarding caffeine and its effects. The resource allows for quick and relevant information.

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What is caffeine?

Caffeine is a plant product that is most commonly found in coffee beans, tea, energy drinks, soft drinks, cocoa and chocolate. Caffeine is also found in some prescription and non-prescription drugs, including cold and allergy medications and pain relievers.

Why do some people use caffeine?

Caffeine acts as a stimulant by exerting an effect on the central nervous system. The effects of caffeine on the body may begin as early as 15 minutes after ingesting and last up to six hours.

Is caffeine safe?

Caffeine is recognized as an addictive substance by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, when consumed in moderate doses (no more than 200 mg, or about 1-2 6-oz cups of coffee), caffeine can help some people feel more alert and less sleepy. Most individuals consuming moderate amounts will experience few, if any, negative side effects.

What are the health benefits of caffeine?

Caffeine may reduce the risk of developing certain neurological disorders such as Parkinson's and dementia as well as certain oral cancers. Caffeine-containing products such as coffee, teas, and chocolate are rich sources of antioxidants and phytonutrients which may have health-promoting effects.

What are the negative side effects?

Caffeine may increase blood pressure, body temperature, blood flow to the skin & extremities, blood sugar levels, stomach acid secretion and production of urine (it acts as a diuretic). People may experience dizziness, hypoglycemia, fruit-like breath odor, troubled breathing, muscle tremors, nausea, diarrhea, increased urine, ketones in urine, drowsiness, thirst, anxiety, confusion, irritability, insomnia, changes in appetite, dry mouth, blurred vision, jitters and cold sweats.

Too much caffeine may lead to sleep deprivation and a tendency to disregard the normal warning signals that the body is tired and needs rest. Caffeine does not replenish energy or prevent emotional fatigue; food and sleep are the only remedies for these. When normal sleeping patterns are continually disrupted, mood depression may occur. Too much caffeine may also lead to anxiety-related feelings such as excessive nervousness, sweating, and tremors.

If you want to avoid some of the unintended side effects of caffeinated beverages (e.g., jitters or sleeplessness), switching to decaffeinated drinks may help.

Are there long-term health risks?

While consuming moderate amounts of caffeine does not seem to have long-term detrimental effects, consuming larger amounts of caffeine (1000 mg or about ten 6-oz cups of coffee a day) on a regular basis may be linked to fertility issues, increased episodes of heartburn, and changes in bowel habits.

People who take medications for depression, anxiety or insomnia, high blood pressure, other heart problems, chronic stomach upset or kidney disease should limit caffeine until discussing the matter with a clinician.

Does caffeine improve athletic performance?

Study results in this arena are mixed. There is some evidence to support the use of caffeine to enhance athletic performance, but it is highly individual.

Can caffeine help a person 'sober up'?

Contrary to popular belief, drinking coffee will not help someone who is intoxicated become sober.

What is caffeine withdrawal?

People who stop drinking caffeinated drinks may notice several side effects, especially if they are used to consuming large amounts of caffeine. Some symptoms of caffeine withdrawal include headaches, irritability, nervousness, nausea, constipation, and muscular tension. These symptoms usually appear about 12-24 hours after someone has stopped consuming caffeine and usually last about one week. It is recommended that you gradually decrease your caffeine intake to avoid withdrawal symptoms.

Is it okay to have caffeine during pregnancy?

Some studies show an association between high doses of caffeine and an increased rate of miscarriages, premature deliveries or low birth weights. However, complicating factors such as smoking and alcohol use were not accounted for in these studies. In very high doses, caffeine can affect fetal breathing and heart rate. One cup of coffee per day during pregnancy is generally considered safe.

If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, please discuss caffeine intake with your clinician.

Where can I get more information about caffeine content?

The Center for Science in the Public Interest lists caffeine content of food, drink and non-prescription drugs.

Caffeine Informer provides a fun calculator and other tools.

For coffee, caffeine content varies depending on the type of bean, quantity used, how finely beans are ground and brewing time.

For non-prescription drugs, it's a good idea to read labels.

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Caffeine is a plant product that is most commonly found in coffee beans, tea, energy drinks, soft drinks, cocoa and chocolate. Caffeine is also found in some prescription and non-prescription drugs, including cold and allergy medications and pain relievers. Caffeine acts as a stimulant by exerting an effect on the central nervous system.

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Take this quiz and see whether you can determine facts about caffeine from myths about caffeine. The quiz is provided by WebMD and includes commonly considered myths regarding caffeine and its effects.

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Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on
February 17, 2020

IMAGES PROVIDED BY:

Question 1) Richard Eskite Photography / Workbook Stock

Question 2) Richard Seagraves / Workbook Stock

Question 3) Paul Bradbury/ OJO Images

Question 4) Maren Caruso/ Photodisc

Question 5) Blend Images

Question 6) Chev Wilkinson / Stone+

Question 7) Image Source Photography

Question 8) Image Source

Question 9) Jupiterimages / Brand X Pictures

Question 10) Michael Poehlman / Riser

Question 11) Lilly Dong / Brand X Pictures

Question 12) Paul Venning / Iconica

Question 13) Kenneth Y Huang / Flickr

Question 14) Lou Hablas / LJH Photography

Question 15) Sagel & Kranefeld

Question 16) Burke / Triolo Productions / Food Pix

Question 17) Tambako / The Jaquar

Final Results Slide) Leslie Kirchhoff - flickr.com/leslie418 / Flickr; Hemera

REFERENCES:

Armstrong L., et al. Exercise and Sport Sciences Review . 2007.

Johns Hopkins: "Caffeine Withdrawal Recognized as a Disorder."

Satel, S. American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 2006.

National Institute on Drug Abuse: Cocaine Caffeine Nicotine Sedatives Alcohol.

Oregon State University: Micronutrient Information Center.

International Food Information Council Foundation: "Caffeine & Health: Clarifying the Controversies."

American Dietetic Association: A Wake Up Call.

American Dietetic Association: "Should I Give Up Caffeine Now That I Am Pregnant?"

National Toxicology Program: "Caffeine."

Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics , 1983.

American Academy of Sleep Medicine: "Sleep & Caffeine."

National Sleep Foundation: Caffeine and Sleep.

Cleveland Clinic: Caffeine and Headache.

PubMed.gov: Efficacy of Anti-Aging Products for Periorbital Wrinkles as Measured by 3-D Imaging.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: "Nutrition During Pregnancy."

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Reviewed by Jennifer Robinson, MD on February 17, 2020 IMAGES PROVIDED BY: Question 1) Richard Eskite Photography / Workbook Stock Question 2) Richard Seagraves / Workbook Stock Question 3) Paul Bradbury/ OJO Images Question 4) Maren Caruso/ Photodisc Question 5) Blend Images Question 6) Chev Wilkinson / Stone+ Question 7)

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Watch this video from AsapScience Youtube platform for an in-depth, engaging description on how caffeine entirely works and its influences on the chemicals in the brain.

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This is an infographic provided by Business Insider which depicts exactly what many effects caffeine has on various parts of the body and brain after consumption. The infographic is colorful and delivers the effects in an easy to read and interesting way.

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Coffee, tea, and cola are just three substances many of us look to for our daily caffeine fix. But what exactly is happening to our brain and body when we take in this colorless, odorless, tasteless drug?

From our bloodstream to our brain, caffeine affects multiple areas of our body in different ways that ultimately leads to more than just a boost in wake-fullness: Caffeine can also improve our mood, enhance focus, and reduce appetite.

Here's a graphic that shows what caffeine is doing in our bodies hours after consumption.

Skye Gould/Business Insider
Kevin Loria also contributed to this article.

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Surprising ways that caffeine affects your body and brain

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Coffee, tea, and cola are just three substances many of us look to for our daily caffeine fix. But what exactly is happening to our brain and body when we take in this colorless, odorless, tasteless drug?

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This is a research based article from Harvard Health Publishing which discusses the latest science on the influences of caffeine on the body. The article includes information on caffeine's effects on one's heart, memory, sex life, and exercise performance.

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Americans are jolted with caffeine. On average, about 80% of adults take some form of caffeine every day, according to the FDA, usually from coffee, tea, soda, or energy drinks.

But does all that caffeine have any effect on your health - either good or bad? "While caffeine can give you a temporary mental and physical boost, its impact depends on how much you consume and the source," says Dr. Stephen Juraschek, an internal medicine specialist at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

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The buzz about caffeine and health - Harvard Health

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For most people, consuming caffeine from coffee, tea, or chocolate poses no serious health risk if taken within safe amounts. Healthy people who have never had a heart attack or currently manage high blood pressure should consume no more than 400 mg ...

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This is a website that deems itself as "the go-to resource for everything caffeine", and that is exactly what is it. The website provides a plethora of resources including caffeine safety and health benefits, latest caffeine news and research,  and knowledge regarding all things caffeine. You can use this website to find out your ''caffeine IQ' by taking  a quiz which determines your level of caffeine savviness  as well as find the sources and amounts of caffeine in your favorite foods and beverages.