Caffeine: Friend or Foe?

Health Effects

On one hand, caffeine may

• enhance exercise performance by improving muscle contractions, increasing tolerance to fatigue, and reducing perceived exertion.
• improve brain function (including alertness, short-term recall, and reaction time) through action on arousal, mood, and concentration.
• increase metabolism by stimulating the central nervous system.

On the other hand, caffeine is associated with

• inhibited iron and zinc absorption if consumed within the same hour of consuming coffee or tea.
• reduced bone mass and increased fracture risks in individuals with low overall calcium intake.
• increased rate of insomnia, headache, and dysphoria.
• increased anxiety-related symptoms through the dysregulation of the stress response system.