All Things Caffeine

Caffeine – You know it and you love it, and for many of us, we consume it daily. Whether it be in the form of coffee, tea, soda, or a chocolate treat after lunch, caffeine keeps many of us going throughout the work week.

Caffeine also plays a role in our natural Jordan Essentials products to tone and firm skin. In our Tone and Firm Body Lotion and Tone and Firm Serum, the caffeine dehydrates fat cells which in turn helps reduce inflammation and puffiness, tighten skin, and inevitably leave skin smoother and younger in appearance.

In honor of this powerful and natural ingredient, here are some things you may not know about caffeine.

Caffeine takes 20-30 minutes to go into effect– As far as consumption, that morning cup of joe will get your blood pumping and your day started in about 20-30 minutes. With that being said, we like to take this time to do our morning reading, journal about what we’re thankful for, or simply enjoy the crisp morning air as the caffeine kicks in.

As far as seeing results from topical use, you will see a notable difference in as little as two weeks!

The three most popular drinks in the world all contain caffeine– This comes as no surprise because 80% of americans consume caffeine on a daily basis. The top three most popular are tea, coffee, and soda.

Caffeine works by blocking inhibiting brain juice and increasing dopamine– You’ve already learned how caffeine works topically, but do you know how it works internally to give you that boost every morning? Here is a breakdown of what goes on after your first sip of caffeine.

Throughout the day, the chemical adenosine accumulates in your brain making you tired. Because of caffeine’s resemblance to this chemical, it blocks the adenosine receptors which diminishes the feeling of fatigue. Caffeine also gives you a boost of dopamine aka the ‘pleasure neurotransmitter.’ These two chemical reactions take place in the prefrontal cortex which is generally associated with planning and cognitive skills.

Now you know how your daily dose of caffeine helps to kickstart your day!

Caffeine has a positive effect on long term memory- Based on a study conducted at John Hopkins University, caffeine does play a positive role in memory retention.

Two groups were tested, one receiving a placebo and the other a dose of caffeine 5 minutes after studying a series of images. The next day, both groups were tested on their ability to recognize images from the day before. During the test, some visuals were the same as the day before, some were new additions, and some were similar but not the same.

More members of the caffeine group were able to correctly identify the new images as “similar” to previously viewed images rather than erroneously citing them as the same.

Because the brain was able to recognize the difference between two similar but not identical items, called pattern separation, this reflects a deeper level of memory retention, according to the researchers.

Wow – the more you know! Now, take advantage of the wonderful benefits caffeine has to offer both internally and externally!

According to scientists at the FDA, caffeine can be part of a healthy diet for most people, but too much caffeine may pose a danger to your health. Every individual is different, so talk to a health professional if you have any concerns.