Because of the correlation between drinking caffeinated beverages and going to the bathroom, it is a common myth that drinking these beverages will ultimately lead to dehydration. If you drink coffee or tea, you have likely noticed this effect for yourself. After blood pressure is increased in this way more fluid is pushed through the kidneys which result in more frequent urination. When caffeine inhibits receptors on the kidneys, it causes them to secrete a hormone that increases blood pressure. Like the brain, the kidneys also have adenosine receptors. Side effects Increased diuresis and blood pressure The more caffeine you take, the more receptors are “turned off” giving the brain the illusion that the AMP has been flushed out resulting in an alert and rested feeling as if you had just woken up. In this way, caffeine essentially “turns off” adenosine receptors and they cannot tell the brain it needs to rest. Instead, it blocks AMP from being able to get to that spot. However, when caffeine is bound to the receptor, it doesn’t send the sleepy signal. While sleeping, the brain has a chance to clear out the AMP and you wake up feeling alert and rested.īecause of caffeine’s structure, it binds to adenosine receptors similarly to adenosine in AMP. Specialized adenosine receptors detect the increasing levels of AMP and send a signal that reduces alertness and increases drowsiness until eventually, you fall asleep. The longer the brain remains active, the more AMP builds up over time. As the ATP is used it leaves behind a byproduct, AMP (adenosine monophosphate). When the brain is active, it consumes lots of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) as an energy source. Adenosine is a nucleotide and is important for coding genes, but it is also used for energy in the form of ATP and as a neuromodulator and signaling molecule. The effect of caffeine is related to its structural similarity to adenosine. That’s enough caffeine to provide a dose for everyone on the planet 365 days a year! Although caffeine is consumed daily by many adults across the world, there are still many misconceptions about its effect. About 120,000 tons of caffeine are used globally every year. While products naturally containing caffeine like coffee or chocolate are still popular, caffeine is also added to many other items such as soda, energy drinks, and headache medicine. ![]() Today, caffeine is the most consumed psychoactive drug on the planet. The rise of coffee houses in Europe has often been cited as one of the catalysts for the scientific revolution. ![]() As trade grew, these products became popular globally for the jolt energy that they provided. Often, leaves or seeds of caffeine-containing plants would be brewed into hot beverages which would increase drinker’s energy and alertness. Wherever these plants grew, local cultures consumed and celebrated them. Notable examples include coffee in Ethiopia and West Africa, cocoa in Mesoamerica, and tea in China. Caffeine naturally occurs in more than thirty tropical plants around the globe.
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