Learn about caffeine in coffee
Caffeine, also known as Trimethylxanthine, coffeine, theine, mateine, guaranine, methyltheobromine or 1,3,7-trimethylxanthine, is an xanthine alkaloid that can be found in coffee varieties, in tea, cola seeds, guarana and (small amounts) in cocoa beans (according to Wikipedia)
In fact, Caffeine is not strange and attractive in the present context, when with just one mouse click, everyone can "dig" all the information related, from the formula, origin , role, to each specific chemical reaction of Caffeine. However, for a coffee news site, it would be remiss to not mention caffeine, this article as a place to store the information that they gathered from reliable sources to use as a reference. for you to read when needed.
Caffeine appears to be a fairly stable molecule in coffee. In other words, it doesn't seem to combine or interact with other molecules. However, it has a quirky characteristic whereby it tends to disobey typical conversion steps between phases. So instead of changing from a solid to a liquid, it often skips the liquid phase and turns directly into a gas - a process called sublimation. Sublimation for caffeine can start at 178 ° C. So this is considered one of the compounds is very resistant to heat, and less loss in roasting process.
Caffeine's role in coffee
The essence of Caffeine in the Coffea plant is a white powdered alkaloids that causes part of the perceived bitterness in coffee. Caffeine is commonly found in the leaves and fruits of more than sixty coffee varieties grown worldwide as a natural insect repellent. In Arabica coffee, Caffeine accounts for an average of 1.2% while Robusta is higher, at about 2.2%. This is one of the factors that help Robusta coffee plants to thrive in harsher environments and better withstand pests.
Contrary to popular belief, Caffeine content is almost unchanged during roasting. Due to the high decomposition temperature, Caffeine in the cell structure of coffee beans is very stable even over 200 ° C (400 ° F).
Effects of Caffeine on the body
The clinically proven effects of Caffeine on the body can be generalized as follows: Reducing nervous tension, Increased excitement, Hypertension, Bronchiectasis, Diuretic (from 300 mg / day or more ), Stimulate intestinal motility, Insomnia .. (see more at Wikipedia)
Mechanism of absorption of Caffeine in the body
Because caffeine dissolves well in both water and lipids, it is easily absorbed directly into the bloodstream - quickly acting on the body as well as the brain. In addition to its direct effects on the nervous system, Caffeine can be resolved in the liver by the cytochrome P450 enzyme system, in particular, by isozyme CYP1A2 into three dimethyl xanthines (according to wikipedia), each of which has a specific effect on the body. :
Paraxanthine (84%): Increased lipolysis, leading to increased glycerol and free fatty acid levels in plasma
Theobromine (12%): Dilates blood vessels and increases urine output.
Theophylline (4%): Calms the bronchial smooth muscles, and is used to treat asthma.
In summary, is caffeine good or bad?
Currently, there are many studies proving that Caffeine has many good sides, and there have not been studies on the negative effects of Caffeine. The World Health Organization (WHO) does not classify caffeine as a class of addictive substances. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has classified caffeine as "Generally Recognized As Safe" (Generally Recognized As Safe).
The neurological effects of Caffeine
There have been many studies on the effects of "wake up" of Caffeine on the nervous system. These studies have focused on the brain-produced Adenosine when we are not sleeping or working. The more the body works, the higher the production of Adenosine.
This substance binds to inhibitory receptors of neurons (receptors), reduces nerve activity and makes you feel sleepy. This is not a bad reaction, but a completely natural biological mechanism of man. Because if you keep working, your body will weaken quickly. Sleep is an opportunity for the body to rest, nourish, ready for the next activity.