Coffee, is said to be the most popular drink in the world and owes it to Caffeine, an alkaloid that is present in it, which is also found in tea and many other natural sources like nuts and cocoa. Its action when consumed by us humans is of that of a stimulant’s – particularly on the central nervous system. The perceived effects are a sense of wakefulness and an increased sense of mental activity – just the things that make it attractive to millions around the world to help them wake up each day. The Americans drink the most coffee in the world but in India, tea has been the favourite all the while, which of course has caffeine, but in lesser concentration.

What happens when you drink it?

Upon consumption, Caffeine is rapidly spread throughout the water in the body in about an hour’s time. It stimulates the heart muscles and relaxes the smooth muscles, increases the excitability of the neurons present in the central nervous system, has diuretic properties, increases the blood plasma glucose and stimulates gastric acid secretions. These result in those perceived sense of wakefulness and increased concentration which of course, is quite fair to assume that everyone reading this knows already knows about. Continue reading →