I am not disputing that some people are more sensitive to the negative effects of either caffeine or chocolate. For example, excess caffeine can create anxiety, nausea (particularly if taken on an empty stomach), an increase in heart rate, and even depression in some people. And chocolate is certainly not something that should form the mainstay of one's diet. If struggling with sugar addiction, or wanting to lose weight, there are more nutritionally complete foods that are available.
But scientists have turned up some interesting facts on caffeine. For example, caffeine actually blocks the effects of a neurotransmitter in the brain (adenosine) that otherwise makes us feel tired. This is why it works so well to keep us awake. It also encourages the release of another brain chemical, dopamine (as well as adrenaline). Dopamine contributes to a feeling of well being.
Two studies, one a population based study (which are not as specific or rigorously defined as other types of studies, but nonetheless valuable indicators) found that drinking caffeine containing drinks like coffee and tea had a protective effect for those at risk of developing liver disease. Issues that the study participants had that increased their risk of liver disease included alcoholism, hepatitis B or C, obesity, or other complications.
And the results indicated that people who drank more than 2 cups of coffee a day had a 44% lower chance of showing actual liver damage compared to those who drank no caffeine. This was not a clinical trial, and the reason why coffee and tea had such an effect is not known. Coffee and tea contain a range of plant chemicals (phytonutrients) that could be responsible for this. A 2005 Norwegian study also found similar benefits for coffee with regards liver disease. This study found that drinking 3 cups of coffee a day could lower the risk of death from liver cirrhosis.
Even if you're not at risk of liver disease, caffeine still has some advantages. Recent research from Austria showed that caffeine may actually enhance short term memory. Researchers found that there was an increase in brain activity (as measured by functional magnetic resonance imaging) in the parts of the brain that were associated with memory and attention. These parts of the brain were the frontal lobe and the anterior cingulum. This was a placebo controlled study, meaning that some people were not given any caffeine. Another, earlier study (2004) found that caffeine did support short term memory, but only when it was in relation to a topic that people were already thinking about. This study found that when testing coffee's effects on unrelated subjects, short term recall was actually inhibited.
Everything does have a flip side though. Adenosine, which is blocked by coffee, is also calming. This could be why it can also cause anxiety in excess, and in some individuals. After all, the balance of our brain chemistry is unique. And when we are addicted to stimulants like caffeine, we lose the sensitivity to our own natural stimulants (dopamine and adrenaline).
References: 1. Australian Healthy Food, February 2006. 2. foodnavigator.com/news/ng.asp'n=52281-caffeine-containing-drinks 3.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp'n=64274&m=1FSND06&idP=2&c=qgtqmovbyiaxdub
Not being able to get adequate amount of sleep is certainly a worrying situation for which there are many solutions available including even resorting to using sleeping pills. However, one problem that persons can also suffer from is sleep apnea and if you are considering sleep apnea and sleeping pills, then you should be advised against taking sleeping pills for your sleep apnea problem because sleep apnea is caused by constriction of the air passage or because of delays in the brain informing the body to breathe which may result in you waking up briefly at night and sleeping pills may actually worsen your sleep apnea problem.
Find Short Term Relaxation
However, what makes many people consider sleep apnea and sleeping pills is the relaxation that the sleeping pills provide, at least in the near term and it also improves your mood and makes you feel well generally. Thus, as far as sleep apnea and sleeping pills, they can certainly be used temporarily and in fact, may even prove to be effective in the short term though once they have helped you to get adequate sleep for a few days, you should stop taking them.
Sleeping pills can become habit forming. You can start to depend on them to get the sleep you need. It is not recommended as a long term solution when you have sleep apnea.
You should realize that as far as sleep apnea and sleeping pills go it is not the recommended way to cope with sleep apnea and there are far better ways to deal with the problem of sleep apnea including losing weight, eliminating using alcohol, and tobacco as well as taking sedatives such as sleeping pills, sleeping on your side and lastly, regularizing your sleeping hours.
Even without the added concern of sleep apnea the long term effects of taking sleeping pills is not beneficial. For insomniacs, taking sleeping pills constantly could be as deadly as cigarette smoking.
Over time the usage of sleeping pills can result in higher mortality rates. If you suffer from sleep apnea, they do little to improve your condition and can actually reduce your brain activity while you're awake. They may even affect your short term memory and even give you a hangover.
If you suffer from sleep apnea, reconsider sleeping pills. Rather, look for an alternative and use self help methods which will not have the effects on you that sleeping pills will.
Both Rebecca Prescott & Rudy Watkins are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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