20 Amazing Benefits of Caffeine for Skin, Hair, and Health
“What makes creative people tingle are interesting problems, the chance to impress their friends, and caffeine.” Alex Steffen
The American futurist and author know the pulse of the world. He has aptly summed up that caffeine is an energizer and a stimulant which gets our creative juices flowing. South India is famous for its filter coffee and no wonder that the region has produced popular leaders and creative artistes. With globalization, coffee and its derivatives have spread to every nook and corner of the ｃountry.
Let’s demystify the main stimulant found in coffee, mocha’s and lattes. Let’s delve deep into a tall frothy mug of cappuccino and understand how caffeine can be good for our health.
Benefits of Caffeine for Health
A question that everybody has in mind is whether caffeine is good for health. The amount of caffeine contained in two to four cups of coffee a day is not harmful. However, excess caffeine intake can make you feel restless, irritable and anxious. Some people are sensitive to caffeine, and they need to restrict their intake. Taking caffeine in the right doses can provide the following health benefits.
1. Good for Liver
Caffeine, when taken in the form of caffeine enema, detoxifies your liver and cleanses the colon. A study at Duke University has proved that caffeine may reduce fatty liver in those suffering from non-alcohol related fatty liver disease.
2. Reduces the Risk of Diabetes
Research says that drinking 5 cups of coffee a day can reduce the risk of developing diabetes. This is primarily because of the presence of high level of disease-fighting antioxidants. Drinking sugar-free coffee daily can make you less likely to suffer from type 2 diabetes.
3. Sharpens Your Brain
Caffeine is good for your brain. It causes the release of dopamine, the brain chemical that stimulates the area of gray matter. This again is responsible for alertness, problem solving and pressure, thus making your brain active and sharper.
A research at Harvard has proven that people who drink four cups of caffeinated coffee are half as likely to suffer from Parkinson’s disease in comparison to others. This is primarily because caffeine keeps dopamine molecules active. It also blocks adenosine that may slow down the build-up of amyloid-beta, a toxic brain plaque that is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
4. Cardiovascular Health
Caffeine constricts your arteries by infiltrating the receptors that line the blood vessel walls. This causes your blood pressure to rise. However, this is a problem with non-habitual drinkers. The effect on blood pressure tends to be much smaller on habitual coffee drinkers as their bodies are somewhat tolerant to their effects.
In fact, research at Brooklyn College has found that men who drank 4 cups of caffeinated coffee daily are less likely to suffer from heart disease than those who never took a sip. Drinking coffee has been found to reduce the risk of stroke by 22%.
5. Aids in Weight Loss
Drinking caffeinated coffee can help in weight loss. Regular drinkers often report a decrease in appetite, resulting in weight loss.
6. Eye Health
Caffeine protects against eyelid spasm and may provide protection against cataracts.
7. Anti-Cancer Properties
Caffeine can reduce the risk of developing cancer. It also delays the onset of average cancer. Caffeinated coffee reduces the risk of mouth and throat cancer by 50%. It may also prevent skin cancer.
8. Improves Muscle Performance and Stamina
Caffeine slightly increases your heart and breathing rate by stimulating your nervous system. This prepares your body for peak performance.
Caffeine facilitates muscle contraction. It blocks the adenosine receptors attached to muscle fibers. This triggers electrical activity that prompts bigger bursts of calcium.
Research has proven that consuming 140 to 400 mg of caffeine 30 to 60 minutes before exercising can improve both speed and endurance. This will make your workout easier.
Caffeine, when mixed with carbohydrates, can replenish muscle glycogen concentrations faster after exercise. Hence, caffeine is often used in energy drinks to increase stamina.
9. Treatment of Migraine and Headaches
Caffeine may increase the effectiveness of gastrointestinal uptake of painkillers. Hence, it is beneficial for patients with migraine and headache medications.
10. Improves Memory
Caffeine increases the level of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine. This is associated with attention, concentration, learning and memory. Hence, it has a positive effect on memory and cognitive function.
Benefits of Caffeine for Skin
Caffeine is increasingly being used in skincare. Besides boosting your mood, it can improve your skin as well. Cosmetic companies are incorporating caffeine in their range of skincare products. Incorporating caffeine in your skincare routine can provide you with an even toned and smooth skin. Some of its skincare benefits are as follows.
11. Fights Free Radicals
Free radicals are responsible for causing premature skin aging. This results in the appearance of wrinkles, sun spots and loss of elasticity. The antioxidants contained in caffeine can attack these free radicals and eliminate them. This will improve the overall look of your skin. For this reason, caffeine is widely used in anti-ageing day and night creams in conjunction with retinol.
12. Soothes Inflammation
Caffeine possesses anti-inflammatory properties that make it effective in reducing inflammation and redness in your skin. It is often used as an ingredient in anti-inflammatory creams to enhance their effectiveness. Using caffeine in skincare products can reduce and prevent inflammation and redness and give you beautiful, even skin tone.
13. Treatment of Under Eye Dark Circles
Under eye dark circles can be caused by various factors such as dehydration, allergies, lack of sleep or genetics.
Caffeine cannot cure hereditary dark circles. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it beneficial in reducing puffiness and inflammation associated with dark circles.
Caffeine also reduces the accumulation of blood under your eyes which contributes to dark shadows.
Eye creams meant to erase dark circles contain caffeine. Tea leaves contain caffeine. So you can apply moist tea bags under your eyes for 5 minutes to reduce dark circles and puffiness.
14. Reduces Cellulite
Caffeine present in skin care products can dehydrate fatty cells. This results in the water disappearing from the surface of your skin. This minimizes the appearance of cellulite, thus providing you with a smoother skin.
Research at the University of Sao Paulo has proven that the application of skin cream containing caffeine reduced the size of cellulite fat cells by 17%. A number of anti-cellulite creams are available that can decrease the appearance of cellulite. Another way to use caffeine is to add ground or instant coffee to regular body scrub at home.
15. Treatment of Rosacea
Caffeine constricts blood vessels to reduce redness. This makes it an ideal treatment for facial flushing and rosacea. When applied topically, caffeine works as a diuretic, aids in circulation and is also a powerful antioxidant. Thus, it has the ability to calm irritated and reddened skin caused by sun damage and rosacea.
16. Repairs UV Damage
Studies have indicated that caffeine may also repair the skin damage caused by exposure to UV rays. It is considered a stronger antioxidant than the polyphenols contained in green tea. In fact, it is among the best and strongest antioxidants to combat UV damage.
17. Tightens Skin
Another added benefit of caffeine is that its topical use can tighten fine lines and smooth puffy skin. Caffeine used in creams is absorbed by your skin to firm and tighten its appearance. It also inhibits the growth of skin cancer cells. Beauty products often include caffeine as it can provide you with a flawless appearance.
Benefits of Caffeine for Hair
The length and quality of your hair depend on the health of your hair follicles and hair growth cycle. Caffeine stimulates not only your body and mind, but also your hair roots. It is often used as an ingredient in shampoos and other hair care products to improve hair growth and structure. It has the following hair benefits.
18. Treatment of Hair Loss
Men often experience hair loss due to the effects of the male hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which affects susceptible hair follicles. Consequently, these follicles become smaller and finally disappear, causing baldness. This process, known as miniaturization of the hair follicles, adversely affects the growth phases of hair.
Caffeine, when applied topically, penetrates into the hair roots and stimulates them. Besides preventing male baldness and hair loss, it stimulates the hair roots in the scalps of women and triggers stronger hair growth.
For caffeine to be effective, allow the caffeine-containing shampoo to stay on your scalp for two minutes so that it can penetrate the hair roots.
19. Stimulates Hair Growth
Caffeine is considered a stimulant for hair follicles. Research by the International Journal of Dermatology indicated that topical treatment with caffeine resulted in the increase in average growth of hair follicles by around 46%. It also extended its life cycle by 33%. This is because caffeine can block the effect of DHT, which damages the hair follicles and is responsible for causing male pattern baldness.
20. Makes Hair Manageable
Besides strengthening the hair shaft, caffeine products add natural shine to your hair and make them more manageable.
Caffeine can provide various benefits for your skin, hair and health. However, this is only possible with the right dosage of caffeine. Excessive intake of caffeine has been reported to cause adverse effects on your health.
Article Source: http://www.stylecraze.com/articles/amazing-benefits-of-caffeine-for-skin-hair-and-health/
Image Source: http://www.meghantelpner.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/shutterstock_111999368-1012x661.jpg
VOCABULARY WORDS:
Tingle (v) - to have a sensation of slight prickles, stings, or tremors, as from cold, a sharp blow, excitement, etc.:
Example: I tingle all over.
Aptly (adv) - relevantly, suitably, appropriately
Example: As American diplomat Ralph Johnson Bunche aptly observed, "There are no warlike people, just warlike leaders."
Stimulant (n) - A substance that raises levels of physiological or nervous activity in the body.
Example: Wine is a powerful stimulant to the brain.
Antioxidants (n) - A substance that inhibits oxidation, especially one used to ｃounteract the deterioration of stored food products.
Example: Fruits and vegetables are the major food sources of antioxidants.
Inflammation (n) - A localized physical condition in which part of the body becomes reddened, swollen, hot, and often painful, especially as a reaction to injury or infection.
Example: Pneumonia is an infection or inflammation of the lung tissue.
Rosacea (n) - A condition in which certain facial blood vessels enlarge, giving the cheeks and nose a flushed appearance.
Example: Women are more likely to get rosacea on the cheeks and chin, but men are more likely to get rhinophyma.
QUESTIONS for DISCUSSION:
1. According to the article, what are the benefits of caffeine for health? Discuss each briefly.
2. In your own opinion, is coffee beneficial?
3. Do you like coffee? How often do you drink coffee?
4. Do you think that coffee addiction is a real possibility? Discuss your answer.
5. Give some harmful effects of caffeine in our health.
