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- Caffeine: is it secretly good for your health?
Can it stunt your growth, or worse yet, kill you?
Today we are breaking down eight shocking myths
about caffeine that might just change your life.
Thank you so much to Lifeboost Coffee
for sponsoring this video.
Number one caffeine myth: caffeine can kill you?
Don't freak out about what I'm about to tell you,
but yes, technically this is true.
It can.
It can affect your body
if you consume way too much of it.
That's why it's important that you know the difference
between a healthy amount and how much is too much.
The US Food and Drug Administration considers
up to 400 milligrams, a safe amount of caffeine
for healthy adults to consume daily.
That's equivalent to about four cups of coffee,
or 10 cans of soda,
or two energy shot types of drinks in a day.
But please keep in mind different products out there
have different amounts of caffeine
and other added ingredients like loads of sugar.
The limit and health impact
can really vary from product to product.
Back to the question at hand.
Could too much caffeine kill someone?
In rare instances when caffeine is consumed
in very high doses, at say excess of five grams in adults,
yes, it could be lethal.
Higher levels of caffeine consumption
is usually found more with products like powdered caffeine
or caffeine pills like with weight loss pills.
In a concentrated potent product the dangers increase a lot.
For instance some concentrated products out there
contain the same amount of caffeine
as 20 to 30 regular coffees.
So please be safe. Don't go buck wild on it.
And know what ingredients are
in the type of products you are consuming.
Myth number two: it stunts your growth.
We've all heard this one, but it's not true.
Where did the rumor start?
Decades ago, some research studies found
the association between high caffeine intake
and reduced calcium absorption in the body.
We all know that calcium is good for bone density in health
so the thought was that any lack of calcium in the body
could be contributing factors to osteoporosis.
Here's the issue with this.
The studies also concluded
that reduction in calcium absorption
associated with caffeine intake was very little
and the calcium loss could even be offset
by adding one to two tablespoons of milk
to your cup of coffee that you drink.
So flat out saying, "Caffeine stunts your growth,"
is a bit of a stretch.
Speaking of stunting your growth,
myth number three: caffeine causing erectile dysfunction?
- Penile softie-osis.
- I'm happy to report, this one is also false.
Caffeine has many effects on the body.
It gives you a burst of energy,
- (high speed voice repeats frantically) Awesome, awesome!
- that can be great for athletic performance
but it can also narrow blood vessels throughout the body.
So with less room for blood to flow
it can temporarily raise blood pressure a bit
which is a reason why researchers initially suspected
that there could be a potential link
between caffeine and erectile dysfunction.
But according to one study
caffeine intake is actually linked
to reduced odds of having erectile dysfunction
in men who drink the equivalent
of two to three cups of coffee per day.
Next myth up:
caffeine can make you live longer.
What?!
Dr. Wagner, didn't you just say
that too much caffeine could possibly kill me?
Here's the deal.
Caffeine by way of coffee
can actually be very beneficial to your health.
Besides feeling more alert and giving one energy,
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drinking coffee has been linked
to lowering the risk of all sorts of health problems:
diseases like Parkinson's disease
liver disease, type II diabetes,
and dementia, are just the beginning.
For instance, one scientific study revealed
that drinking three to five cups per day was associated
with a decreased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Other evidence suggests that normal consumption
of caffeine can reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by 26%.
I can go on and on about all sorts of health benefits
from caffeine, and caffeine related products like coffee,
especially one of my favorite coffee brands, Lifeboost.
I actually drink this coffee
in my house for a number of reasons.
It's low acid for starters.
Studies say low acid coffees
potentially have higher levels of antioxidants
and anti-inflammatory properties.
Plus they do a ton of third party testing
for microtoxins, heavy metals, pesticides,
and 450 plus other chemicals, including glyphosate
which is an herbicide
that other coffee plantations often use to control weeds.
They pride themselves
on being the healthiest coffee on the planet.
I made Lifeboost give me
an exclusive 50% off deal for you guys.
So check it out.
The link's down below in the description.
Let me know what you think.
All right.
Caffeine sobers you up.
Ah, no, not exactly.
We all know
that alcohol can have sedative effects on the body.
In other words, in addition to making one impaired
it can also make a person feel sleepy
and it usually hits a person two to six hours
after alcohol consumption.
Here's where the myth comes into play.
One would think that because caffeine does the opposite
of alcohol, or in general makes people more alert,
it could kind of counteract the buzz
but it's just not the case.
Although it might make a person feel a little bit more alert
after a night-long chug fest, it unfortunately
cannot remove the feelings or state of drunkenness
or cognitive deficits that alcohol can cause.
The reason is we have to metabolize the alcohol we drink
in order to diminish its effects.
The body processes it in several ways
but it's mostly broken down in the liver
and eventually excreted.
Caffeine's good for asthma?
This one is in fact, true.
Caffeine does appear to improve airway function
for up to four hours
in people with asthma after consumption.
In fact, it is a weak bronchodilator
and it also reduces respiratory muscle fatigue.
And caffeine is also chemically related
to the prescription drug Theophylline
which has been used over the years for treating wheezing,
shortness of breath, asthma, chronic bronchitis,
and other lung diseases.
Now is this a substitute for your quick-relief inhaler
or other asthma action plan prescribed by your doctor?
No.
If not treated properly
asthma attacks could be life threatening,
but caffeine has been suggested
to have some protective effects against asthma
and reduce asthma symptoms.
For instance, in a study out of Korea
their findings show that caffeinated coffee consumption
lowered the frequency of asthma.
Number seven caffeine myth:caffeine causes insomnia.
Eh? Not usually, but it could disrupt your sleep.
It really all comes down to your body's sensitivity to it.
Like for instance, one factor could be your metabolism,
or how much fiber you have,
or how frequently you consume coffee or caffeine.
Processed mainly through the liver,
some caffeine can stick around in the body
for several hours, but for most people,
a cup of coffee or two in the morning
won't interfere with your sleep at night.
Your sensitivity may vary though.
People who are more sensitive may not only
experience insomnia-like effects
but also have caffeine side effects
of, say nervousness or gastrointestinal upset, et cetera.
And women who take birth control pills may keep caffeine
in their system for up to four hours longer
than compared to those who are not on the pill.
So, the moral the story here?
If your body is sensitive or impacted by caffeine's effects
try not to consume any caffeine products
at least six hours before going to bed.
Last myth:
caffeine can provide relief for a headache.
This is a caffeine truth
during a headache blood vessels swell
or go through other changes
causing more blood flow around the brain.
Now this increase of blood to the brain area
puts pressure on surrounding nerves
which sends pain messages to your brain,
AKA, what you experience as the headache.
Caffeine has vasoconstrictive properties,
meaning it could actually
cause your blood vessels to narrow, restricting blood flow
which might relieve a little bit
of that pain that you're experiencing from your headache.
Caffeine taken with other common headache
medications could also increase the absorption
and strengthen the medication to provide even faster relief.
Keep in mind also
that consuming too much caffeine can trigger headaches
and caffeine withdrawal can sometimes also
have the same blood vessel enlarging type qualities
and trigger a headache as well.
Adjusting to the right amount
of caffeine in your system is key here.
All right, bottom line: caffeine seems to have
a lot of potential health benefits.
So as long as you aren't going
beyond the recommended daily amount.
Use common sense and moderation
and let me know
if you want me to debunk more caffeine myths.
Also please make sure you subscribe
and turn your bell notifications on.
Thank you so much for watching
and stay healthy my friends.
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