The Aesthetics Advisor

While coffee (and the caffeine it contains) gives pleasure and health benefits to countless people, many see nothing wrong with several cups per day, which could increase health risks for some. Drinking less coffee, or just eliminating caffeine from your diet, may help improve sleep quality, reduce anxiety, and even reduce headaches, among other benefits. Caffeine Is a Psychoactive Substance Caffeine is the world’s most widely consumed “ psychoactive substance .” It’s considered psychoactive due to its effects on alertness and our mental state, and it’s used daily by at least 85 percent of Americans. It has addictive effects for some people, affecting the same parts of the brain as cocaine—but in  different ways . Yet according to  a review  in the American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, caffeine use doesn’t fit the profile of an addictive drug. “Its intake does no harm to the individual or to society and its users are not compelled to consume it. Though cessati...

From Starbucks to Red Bull to Coke, caffeine has become an energy bump for  75 percent   of  Americans who consume it on a daily basis.  Many count it as the spark that ignites their brains and bodies to get through a long day. However, not all caffeine presents itself the same, according to emerging research demonstrating that synthetic caffeine may accelerate aging while naturally occurring caffeine could slow age-related decline. Does Synthetic Caffeine Accelerate Aging? The type of caffeine in your coffee may play a role in its protective effect against aging. About  60 percent  of the   caffeine consumed  by Americans is synthesized in a lab, meaning it doesn't come from natural sources such as coffee beans or tea plants. Synthetic caffeine is what popular companies such as Pepsi, Coke, and Red Bull add to their beverages to give their drinks an extra kick.  In a 2017 study published in  Nutrition & Metabolism , higher caffeine ...