When we feel sleepy, we often drink coffee to stay awake because coffee contains Caffeine, a natural stimulant that increases alertness and reduces fatigue. Caffeine acts on the central nervous system, helping to inhibit a chemical in the brain called Adenosine, which plays a role in making the body feel sleepy and tired.
When you drink coffee, caffeine blocks the effects of adenosine, thereby enhancing the activity of other neurotransmitters such as Dopamine and Norepinephrine, increasing the feeling of alertness and concentration. Therefore, when you feel sleepy, drinking coffee will help reduce the feeling of fatigue and help you stay more alert for a short period of time.
Coffee has many benefits for the body if consumed properly:
- Increase energy and alertness: Caffeine in coffee stimulates the central nervous system, reduces fatigue and increases concentration.
- Improve mood: Coffee can help improve mood and reduce stress by stimulating the production of neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin.
- Antioxidants: Coffee contains many antioxidants, which help protect cells from damage by free radicals, which can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
- Improve brain function: Many studies have shown that coffee can help improve brain function, increase learning ability, memory and creative thinking.
- Reduces the risk of certain diseases: Some studies show that coffee can help reduce the risk of Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and type 2 diabetes.
- Supports weight loss: Caffeine in coffee has the effect of boosting metabolism, helping the body burn calories more effectively.
When you drink coffee, caffeine not only blocks adenosine but also stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, increasing your heart rate and blood pressure, making you feel more active. This also helps improve your ability to concentrate and react quickly.
The effects of coffee do not last forever. As the caffeine begins to decrease in your body, you may feel an energy “crash”, especially if you consume too much coffee or coffee in the evening, as it can affect your sleep.
So, although coffee helps you wake up immediately, it cannot replace natural sleep, and maintaining adequate sleep is still the most important factor in keeping your body and mind healthy.