You find it in your daily cup of coffee, many use it during exercise, and some even struggle to function without it. What exactly is caffeine, and more importantly, what does it do to your body? Let's first take a scientific look at this well-known substance!
The science
Caffeine belongs to the group of alkaloids. Other well-known substances in this category include morphine, cocaine, and ephedrine. This type of molecule usually has a strong physiological or pharmacological effect on the human body. They are usually produced by plants, where they function as a protective mechanism: this makes the plants poisonous to animals or insects.
Caffeine is produced in coffee beans, tea leaves, and the lesser-known guarana berry. Even our favorite cocoa bean contains caffeine. These days, the molecule can also be produced synthetically. It's a white powder with a very bitter taste.
Caffeine's half-life is about 5 hours. In practical terms, this means that after drinking your morning cup of coffee, you still have half that amount of caffeine in your body by midday.
The effects
Caffeine reduces fatigue. That's why we all drink loads of coffee in the morning to get through the day. It also improves reaction time, concentration, and coordination. Caffeine also increases your basal metabolic rate. This is the energy your body uses simply by "existing"—your resting energy expenditure. That's why caffeine is one of the few substances that can actually help you lose weight. Don't be fooled, though: the extra energy you use by consuming caffeine is estimated at a maximum of 200 kcal per day! This means you can lose 1 kg of fat in about 40 days. It's important to note that you don't compensate for those 200 kcal with an extra cookie with all that coffee, of course.
Dose?
Hundreds of studies have been conducted on the ideal caffeine dose for athletes. Each study yields different results, ranging from 3 mg to even 9 mg of caffeine per kilogram of body weight. What these values always fail to mention is personal experience. What good is an ideal dose of 450 mg of caffeine if it makes you hyper-nervous and perhaps even gives you palpitations? At Sanas, we're certainly not fans of sky-high caffeine doses.
Caffeine shots
In our Energy category, we have two products that contain guarana extract. This is a natural form of caffeine derived from the guarana berry (Paullinia cupana Kunth.), which is primarily grown in South America. The plant contains more caffeine than coffee beans, but this molecule is released slightly more slowly than when drinking coffee. This reduces your risk of feeling jittery or experiencing heart palpitations.
Guaranol contains 160 mg of caffeine. This is equivalent to 3 cups of coffee. For most of us, this alone provides a significant boost to get us going! Carnitol Plus, on the other hand, is ideal for those who don't drink coffee and are sensitive to caffeine. It contains 80 mg of caffeine and will give them the necessary boost. Carnitol Plus can also be used to refuel during longer endurance sports.
So, could you use an extra energy boost? Know that there are other options besides your regular cup of coffee that can help you achieve your goals!
