How Caffeine Becomes Addictive
For many people, the day starts off with a cup of hot coffee. Coffee is a source for caffeine which is also present in tea, chocolate, and soft drinks but the quantity in the latter is less. The amount of caffeine in a cup of coffee can vary from as less as 30 mg to as high as 300 mg. Caffeine is famous for influencing your brain and making you feel active. However, overconsumption of the same makes you addicted to it.
As soon as you take a sip of coffee the caffeine inside it is quickly absorbed and it starts affecting the brain. Once it reaches the brain it starts stimulating the cells of your brain. Caffeine’s chemical structure is similar to that of adenosine, another molecule which calms the brain. Eventually, caffeine molecules replace that of adenosine and they stop your brain from feeling that you are tired.
Now with over and continued consumption of caffeine can change the chemistry of your brain. Your brain may start producing more adenosine receptors in order to compensate for the ones blocked. More the receptors would force you to keep increasing the consumption of caffeine so that you feel the same kind of alertness. This also explains why most coffee drinkers tend to develop a tolerance for it after frequent and regular use.
On the flip side if you stop caffeine consumption your brain has lots of free receptors for Adenosine to bind to hence causing withdrawal symptoms. Daily consuming caffeine may cause a physical addiction which is difficult to overcome.
Moreover, drinking caffeine creates positive feelings in the mind and you want to keep continue with the same. So far, no one knows how long it would take for your body to get used to the daily caffeine intake. However, overuse is definitely a cause of concern and slowly reducing the amount may be beneficial.
