What's the deal with caffeine? How does it do its thing to bring out our best?
G’day Coffee Lover!
Caffeine is a natural stimulant that stops adenosine, which is a chemical in the brain that makes you feel sleepy. Here's a more detailed explanation of how caffeine works, in case you're curious:
Adenosine: Adenosine is a neurotransmitter that builds up in your brain during the day and makes you feel like you wanna sleep. It binds to receptors in your brain that slow down nerve cell activity and reduce the release of other neurotransmitters.
Caffeine: Caffeine is a molecule that looks a lot like adenosine and can also bind to those same receptors in your brain. But caffeine does the opposite of adenosine: it speeds up nerve cell activity and increases the release of other neurotransmitters.
Stopping Adenosine: When caffeine binds to those adenosine receptors, it stops adenosine from slowing down nerve cell activity and reducing the release of other neurotransmitters.
Increased Neurotransmitters: With adenosine out of the way, your brain can release more dopamine and norepinephrine, which can improve your mood, make you feel more alert and focused, and even help you perform better physically.
So basically, caffeine works by stopping adenosine from making you sleepy, which helps your brain release more of the good stuff that makes you feel awesome and brings out your best.
Thanks for reading, and have a great day!