Caffeine supplement: properties and benefits

Almost all people start the day by drinking coffee. This choice is not only due to the good taste of the drink with a typical bitter taste, but also to the properties of caffeine, a substance with a stimulating effect, which helps to wake up and give the charge.

Before delving into the benefits and effects that coffee can give you, it is interesting the story behind the discovery of this plant, of which not many are aware. One of the many legends tells of a shepherd in Ethiopia, named Kaldi, who during one of his typical days of work, took the sheep to graze, which came across, by pure chance, a coffee plant. They began to eat the berries and chew the leaves. When night came, the sheep instead of sleeping began to wander happily. The shepherd, surprised by so much turmoil, went to investigate and discovered that the reason for all this was related to plants. Another legend, more prophetic, tells of Muhammad who in a vision had offered by the Archangel Gabriel a black potion – coffee – precisely – regenerating. He drank it and returned in strength. Legends aside, coffee is something that comes from far away, precisely from the East and from 1600 onwards it began to conquer the West with the birth of the first coffee bars in England. Returning to the present day, it is good to dispel an important myth, according to which coffee is a morning drink necessary to wake up more quickly. Caffeine is a stimulant that acts directly on the nervous system, myocardium and all skeletal muscles, for its incredible properties it is also used in the medical field as an active ingredient against migraine, or in food supplements useful to give charge and give energy to the body and mind, as well as being the basis of many energy drinks, also containing taurine. Its action is very fast caffeine is in fact quickly absorbed and its effects manifest themselves from 15 to 30 minutes after its intake and remain for a few hours. If you are experiencing a moment of mental fatigue it may be a good idea, therefore, to associate a caffeine supplement with a normal diet.

But what are the benefits of caffeine supplements?

The benefits of caffeine are really many, in China tea (containing theine, a substance similar to caffeine) has been consumed for thousands of years. In the Amazon rainforest then, the natives use guarana seeds, containing guaranine, chemically identical to caffeine but with a more prolonged release of “exciting” effects.

Let’s see what the main benefits are:
● Gives better physical performance;
● Helps burn fat faster (accelerates metabolism, so it can be useful during weight loss diets);
● Reduces physical fatigue and increases endurance (endurance for athletes);
● Increases concentration and improves attention

The effects of coffee are truly extraordinary, but it is good never to abuse it because the intake of this drink is not always good for all subjects. For example, for those who are hypertensive it is not recommended to take more than one cup of coffee a day.

When to use a caffeine supplement

If you are facing a period of strong mental fatigue and stress, or if there are urgent work deadlines, or if there are exams, to be faced using a caffeine supplement could prove to be a solid ally to overcome any difficulty.

Caffeine supplements are also a valid help for anyone who practices a sport (even simple fitness), increase the well-being of the body and improve performance, if you are a sporty person, therefore, you should seriously consider them to maintain or increase your daily workout. However, it should be remembered that caffeine is already present in some foods such as cocoa, mate berries or guarana and in some commonly used drinks such as tea, cola and many energy drinks that increase stimulation and decrease fatigue. The daily dose of pure caffeine that can be taken without running health risks, as stated by EFSA, is 400 mg, i.e. the caffeine contained in about five cups of coffee. The exciting effects, on average, last from 3 to 5 hours after intake, however, it should be specified that the body can develop tolerance to the active ingredient affecting its effects, or forcing to increase the dosage.

Our recommendations

If you feel you can’t keep the right concentration, we advise you to use a food supplement that helps the mind and body to fill up on energy, such as Supradyn Mental Recharge in effervescent tablets, which has among its main ingredients caffeine (75 mg) as well as magnesium, mineral salts, folic acid and other vitamins with an energizing effect. The recommended daily dose is one tablet per day. They are effervescent, so they should be dissolved in a glass of natural water. Supradyn Mental Recharge can be taken at any time of the day, even between meals as there are no fat-soluble vitamins in the formula. If you suffer from insomnia, however, we advise against taking it in the evening. It is also a product suitable for those with celiac disease because it is gluten-free.

There are also other types of supplements such as bars containing maltodextrin in the package, but we do not recommend them because sometimes they have a high content of fatty acids.

Side effects and contraindications

Before taking energy supplements it is always good to read the warnings or consult with your doctor, if you are performing a drug therapy or in the presence of diseases. To pay particular attention are all subjects who already have a predisposition to allergies. Supplements are not intended as a substitute for a healthy lifestyle. They are also not suitable in the training phase, as caffeine is just a substance to avoid at this time. In case of pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for children, the use of Supradyn Mental Recharge is not recommended.

We can therefore say that taking caffeine or supplements with the latter inside, can be an important help for those who are going through a highly debilitating moment.
Sometimes, however, it is just a matter of accumulated fatigue and you can solve everything with a good sleep, so as to wake up rested and regenerated.