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December 4, Caffeine pills can be a quick fix for college students, professionals who work overtime, and parents who are sleep-deprived. Caffeine pills have the same, or even more, caffeine content than a cup of coffee. They are often used by people who want to increase their caffeine intake to get them through the day.
Are caffeine pills harmful or healthy? Continue reading to learn everything you need about this controversial supplement.
What Are Caffeine Pills?
Caffeine, a compound that stimulates the central nervous system, increases energy levels and alertness. It also helps to combat fatigue. Caffeine is found in many foods, such as coffee, tea, and cacao seeds. It can also be added to energy drinks and sodas.
Caffeine pills are a type supplement that is made from caffeine. It can be either taken from natural sources or synthetically manufactured. Caffeine pills are similar to other supplements like green coffee bean extract and coffee fruit. They can be used as a convenient way to reap the health benefits of caffeine. Research has shown that caffeine intake may reduce depression risk, increase metabolism, and even improve exercise performance. (1, 2, 3)
Caffeine pills are not the same as caffeine powder. The Federal Drug Administration recently declared it illegal and dangerous. (4) Caffeine pills can be found in capsule and tablet form.
However, this doesn’t mean caffeine pills can be considered safe and effective alternatives to these dangerous supplements. Some people claim that caffeine pills are an easy way to make benefit-rich coffee without the need for any special equipment. Others argue that a pill doesn’t provide the same antioxidants and health-promoting properties of hot coffee or tea.
So do caffeine pills work? Do you prefer to drink your morning coffee to get your caffeine fix? Let’s take a closer look.
Caffeine Pills vs. Coffee
There are many differences between coffee and caffeine pills. People may also prefer one to the other. Here’s how they compare:
* Acidity: High levels of acid in coffee can irritate the gastrointestinal system and aggravate symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This can cause GERD symptoms such as heartburn, chest pain, and belching. Caffeine can worsen GERD symptoms in some people. However, people who are sensitive or allergic to caffeine and its effects may tolerate it better.
* Dosage:A single cup of coffee typically contains around 95 mgs of caffeine. This is considerably less than the daily recommended limit of 400 mgs for adults. Caffeine pills can have 100-200 mgs per serving. This makes it easier to get too much and feel symptoms like anxiety, heart rate, and digestive problems.
* Nutritional value:Many people don’t like the taste of coffee without adding cream and sugar. This can quickly make a cup of coffee a calorie bomb. Because many people drink coffee to increase their metabolism and thermogenic benefits, black coffee may be a better choice than regular coffee.
* Antioxidant content: Coffee is rich in antioxidants and healing compounds. These include chlorogenic, ferulic and caffeic acids. Caffeine pills contain no antioxidants and only have the caffeine in coffee.
Are Caffeine Pills Safe? 8 Dangers
Caffeine can be beneficial and safe when consumed in moderation. This is especially true if it comes from natural sources such as tea, coffee, or cacao. High doses of caffeine can have a number of side effects that could be dangerous for your health.
Here are some of the most notable side effects of caffeine pills:
1. Anxiety: Taking large amounts of caffeine pills or supplements can increase your anxiety.
2. Acid Reflux: Even though caffeine pills are less acidic that coffee, it can still cause acid reflux symptoms for people who are sensitive.
3. Headaches: Caffeine can be used to relieve headaches. But, caffeine can trigger headaches if taken in excess or in high amounts.
4. High blood pressure: Some research indicates that caffeine can cause an increase in blood pressure. This is especially true if caffeine pills or coffee are consumed regularly. (7)
5. Dependency: Caffeine can be addictive and cause withdrawal symptoms such as irritability and low energy. (8)
6. Insomnia: While caffeine can be good in the morning, or early in the afternoon, it can cause insomnia if taken later in the night.
7. Diarrhea: Caffeine acts as a natural laxative and can cause loose stool, which could lead to diarrhea. (9)
8. Bone loss: Caffeine can cause calcium absorption to be impaired, which could result in a decrease in bone density and an increase risk of fractures. (10)
7 Other Options
Are you looking for a safer, more efficient way to get your caffeine daily without suffering from the side effects of caffeine pills? These are some energizing alternatives for caffeine pills you might want to look at:
1. Black Coffee: Coffee is rich in antioxidants, as well as a lot of caffeine. To maximize health benefits and limit calories, skip the cream, sugar and artificial sweeteners. Instead, opt for rich black coffee.
2. Green tea: This super-healthy beverage is loaded with polyphenols that help prevent chronic diseases and fight free radicals. It contains very little caffeine, so you don’t get the same buzz as coffee or caffeine pills. (11)
3. Ashwagandha: Studies have shown that ashwagandha is an adaptogenic herb that has powerful healing properties. It can be used in place of caffeine to reduce stress and improve health. (12)
4. Holy Basil: Also known as tulsi holy basil, holy basil has been proven to lower fatigue, lower blood pressure levels, and reduce body weight in clinical trials. (13)
5. Rooibos Tea – Although Rooibos Tea is naturally caffeine-free it’s rich in antioxidants. In some animal models, it has been shown that it can lower cortisol levels, which is a stress hormone. (14)
6. Cacao Nibs are made from cacao seeds, which contain a lot of caffeine. They can be used to make delicious baked goods, smoothies and homemade grainless granola.
7. Peppermint oil: This essential oil has been shown to improve brain function and combat mental fatigue. It is a great option to taking caffeine pills to get a quick boost of energy. (15)
Last Thoughts
* Caffeine pills can be taken from natural or synthetic sources. People who want to reap the health benefits of caffeine such as an increase in energy and better physical performance, or enhanced metabolism, use them.
* Caffeine pills and coffee have many differences, including in terms of acidity, dosages, nutritional value, antioxidant content, and other factors. Caffeine pills only contain caffeine, whereas coffee contains many antioxidants and other nutrients.
* What side effects can caffeine pills cause? Caffeine pills may be addictive and can cause anxiety, heartburn, headaches, insomnia, stomach pain, and even bone loss.
* There are many natural alternatives to caffeine pills that provide similar health benefits such as green tea, black coffee, holy basil and Rooibos, as well as cacao nibs, peppermint oil, and Rooibos tea.
Next: Is Guarana a Harmful Supplement, Energy-Boosting Powerhouse, or Fat-Burning?
