Caffeine is a widely-consumed psychoactive substance that stimulates the central nervous system and affects brain activity. Found in the leaves, seeds and fruits of many plants, caffeine is known to increase energy levels and alertness by blocking the effects that adenosine, a neurotransmitter, has on the brain. Adenosine usually builds up throughout the day and relaxes the brain, ultimately making us feel tired enough to go to sleep. By blocking this information from the brain, caffeine causes the body to feel more energised, awake and focused.
Of course, too much caffeine can have a negative impact on the body. If you drink more than four cups of brewed coffee a day (around 400mg caffeine), you could experience an increased heart rate, headaches, restlessness, insomnia and feelings of nervousness or anxiety. Some people can feel these effects after just two or three cups! In extreme cases, where people who lead high-stress lifestyles regularly consume more than five brewed cups of coffee a day (>500mg caffeine), symptoms can become more extreme and include hallucinations (like hearing voices that are not there). Because of the effect that caffeine can have on the body, surely it makes sense to measure and manage our caffeine intake in order to know when we’re consuming too much?
“Caffeine is the most used psychoactive drug in the world yet most of us never take a step back to think, am I consuming it the best way?”
- Dr Adam Bataineh, Longevity Doctor
Caffeine content is difficult to measure and generally requires specialised methods / equipment, like UV spectrophotometry or an at-home test strip. Factors like type of bean, type of roast and type of drink can all influence how much caffeine is in a cup of coffee - and even this amount can vary between different brands.
Stardust’s low doses of caffeine help you keep track of how much you're actually drinking each day. Smaller, manageable doses also mean that you are less likely to get those side servings of anxiety, jitteriness and hallucinations, which happens when you're a bit too reckless with your caffeine intake.
Despite being a psychoactive substance, caffeine can be found in many different food and drink products that are widely consumed on a daily basis. In fact, many of us consume these products without even realising that they contain caffeine, increasing our overall intake.