As its name says, they are formed basically of Carbon atoms bounded to Hydrogen and also to Oxygen atoms. Glucose is one of the simplest carbohydrate known and has 6 atoms of Carbon, 12 of Hydrogen, and 6 of Oxygen. Many carbohydrates glucose, sucrose, lactose, etc. But there is one thing missing—actually the most important one—water. A relevant point for this article is the way Homo drank water before and after fire discovery. The ability to heat water probably made eating more enjoyable for early humans.
Many foods taste better when they are heated or cooked. Cooking food at high temperatures using water or vegetable oils was an early achievement of early humans that is still around today. But hot water led to something else; it led to the possibility to drink water containing products from leaves without eating the leaf itself. Interestingly, all cultures and all races have ended up with some things in common in the way they live their lives, and one of these is making drinks from the process of boiling plants in water, called infusions Figure 1.
From a historical point of view, it is very likely that the first infusions prepared with leaves in hot water were used for ceremonies, and not specifically used just to get nutrients. They probably did not taste very good, since many drinks made this way taste bitter, and bitterness was often a signal to early humans that something was poisonous. So, what were the benefits of those drinks?
We believe that the short answer is that many of those drinks contained substances called methylxanthines. Of all these atoms, at least four have to be Nitrogen atoms this is what chemists call Xanthine structure , whereas another one has to be a Carbon atom surrounded of three Hydrogen atoms Methyl group. Then, each methylxanthine has its own modifications and chemical groups that make them different to each other. The most consumed in the World is caffeine, found in coffee and in cola drinks.
Theophylline, which is extracted from tea leaves and the methylxanthine found in chocolate, theobromine, are also highly consumed by humans of all countries, cultures, and races Figure 2. Is the presence of methylxanthine in coffee, tea, or chocolate the reason why so many cultures love these drinks and they had been consumed up to the present day Figure 3?
We will try to answer this question. While many people drink beverages with caffeine or theophylline in them, not many people know how these substances work.
Their mode of action is blocking the adenosine receptors. The energy that an organism needs to maintain life or a cell to do chemical reactions is provided by ATP Adenosine TriPhosphate. When ATP is used, cells generate adenosine plus phosphate. Therefore, if we have a lot of adenosine within our cells, it would mean that we do not have much ATP. Cells notice in every moment the balance between ATP and adenosine. Any increase of adenosine is a sign that cells have to slow down activities and restore ATP levels to maintain their energy levels and strength.
This action is performed by adenosine receptors that appeared around a million years before humans discovered fire see Ref. What happens if we drink coffee, tea, or chocolate? Caffeine, theophylline, or theobromine do not have relevant effects in our organisms except when they arrive in the brain.
The same amount of Mountain Dew contains 55 mg caffeine. Chocolate cacao. This is a seed from a South American plant that is processed as an extract in foods, energy drinks, and energy supplements. Guarana seeds contain about four times the amount of caffeine as that found in coffee beans.
Energy drinks. However the standard energy drink serving is 16 ounces, which doubles the caffeine to mg. Energy shots are much more concentrated than the drinks; a small 2 ounce shot contains about mg caffeine. Learn more about energy drinks. Caffeine supplements contain about mg per tablet, or the amount in 2 cups of brewed coffee. Recommended Amounts In the U.
Caffeine and Health Caffeine is associated with several health conditions. Sleep Caffeine can block the effects of the hormone adenosine, which is responsible for deep sleep. Anxiety In sensitive individuals, caffeine can increase anxiety at doses of mg or more a day about 4 cups of brewed coffee. Cardiovascular disease Caffeine stimulates the heart, increases blood flow, and increases blood pressure temporarily, particularly in people who do not usually consume caffeine.
Pregnancy and infertility Caffeine can cross the placenta, and both mother and fetus metabolize caffeine slowly. Liver disease Most studies on liver disease and caffeine have specifically examined coffee intake. Gallstones Studies have shown that higher coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of gallstones.
Asthma Caffeine has a similar action to the medication theophylline, which is sometimes prescribed to treat asthma. Diabetes Caffeine stimulates the release of a stress hormone called epinephrine, which causes liver and muscle tissue to release its stored glucose into the bloodstream, temporarily raising blood glucose levels. And yet this beverage has been subject to a long history of debate. Energy Drinks Many energy drinks pack about mg of caffeine, the amount in two cups of brewed coffee.
Because of the amount of sugar and stimulant ingredients, there is concern that these beverages may not be helpful, and even worse, harmful to adolescents and people with certain health conditions. Coffee, caffeine, and sleep: A systematic review of epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials. Sleep medicine reviews. Coffee, Caffeine, and Health. Guarana provides additional stimulation over caffeine alone in the planarian model.
PLoS One. Drewnowski A, Rehm CD. Sources of caffeine in diets of US children and adults: trends by beverage type and purchase location. The effect of caffeine on energy balance. Journal of basic and clinical physiology and pharmacolog y.
Relationship between caffeine intake and infertility: a systematic review of controlled clinical studies. BMC Womens Health. Caffeine for asthma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. Join us Nov. RT HarvardChanSPH : "One way for people to make healthier choices is for the institutions that provide free food to improve the nutritional….
Register to join the event! These effects can include increased breathing and heart rate, and increased mental alertness and physical energy. Depending on the individual, these effects can last up to 12 hours. How you react to caffeine depends on your body mass, health and metabolism.
It also depends on whether your body is used to getting regular doses of caffeine and how much you have in one serving. Research suggests that mg per day or less is an acceptable dose of caffeine for the general population. Energy drinks contain caffeine, as well as ingredients such as taurine and guarana a natural source of caffeine. Energy drinks do not hydrate and should not be confused with sports drinks. The caffeine and sugar content of energy drinks is high. In fact it is often higher than in soft drinks.
The levels of caffeine in energy drinks vary between brands, so it is important to read the label before having them. This means you become used to its effects on your body and need to take larger amounts to achieve the same results. Over time, you may become physically and psychologically dependent on caffeine to function effectively. If you are dependent on caffeine and you stop having it, you may experience withdrawal symptoms.
These may include:. This gives your nervous system time to adapt to functioning without the drug. However, check the anti-doping rules of your particular sporting code to make sure caffeine is not a restricted drug for the sport you play. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Asking for help when you first suspect you have an alcohol or drug problem is important. If you think you have an addiction, speak to your local doctor or phone DirectLine.
The size of a standard drink can vary according to the type of alcohol. Amphetamines are psychostimulant drugs that speed up the workings of the brain. Prolonged misuse of steroids can cause liver damage and severe mood swings.
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